chain /chān/

1. A series of links or rings passing through one another, used to restrain, support, pull, etc, or in jewellery
2. A number of things connected in series
3. A linked series, eg of house-buyers and -sellers
4. A mountain range
5. A string of islands
6. Something that binds
7. A connected course or train (of events)
8. A measure of 100 links, or 66 feet (see Gunter's chain under gunter)
9. A measure of 100 feet (see engineer's chain under engine)
10. A series of shops, hotels, restaurants, etc under the same ownership or management
11. A number of atoms linked in succession (chem)
12. A routine consisting of segments each of which uses the output of the preceding segment as input (computing)
13. (in pl) fetters, bonds, confinement or restriction generally

1. To fasten (also chain up or down)
2. To fetter
3. To restrain
4. To measure, with chain or tape (surveying)

chained adjective

1. Bound or fastened, as with a chain
2. Fitted with a chain

chainˈless adjective

1. Without chains
2. Unfettered
3. Unrestricted

chainˈlet noun

A small chain

chain armour noun

Chain mail

chain bolt noun

A large bolt used to secure the chainplates to the ship's side

chainˈbrake noun

A cut-off safety device on a chainsaw, activated automatically if the chainsaw kicks back

chainˈ-breaker noun

A method or device for resolving or avoiding the difficulties created by a chain of house-buyers and -sellers each awaiting action on the part of others earlier or later in the sequence

chain bridge noun

1. A bridge suspended on chains
2. A suspension bridge

chain cable noun

A cable made up of iron links

chain drive noun

Transmission of power by chain-gear

chainˈ-driven adjective

chain gang noun

A gang of convicts wearing leg-irons, esp chained together on an outside working party

chainˈ-gear or chainˈ-gearing noun

Gearing consisting of an endless chain and (generally) sprocket-wheels

chain grate noun

A device for stoking a (usu industrial) furnace in which fuel is drawn into the furnace by means of a rotating chain

chain harrow noun

A harrow made up of chainwork

chain letter noun

A letter soliciting (among other things) the sending, by the recipient, of similar letters with or without a limit to other people

chain lightning noun

1. Forked or zigzag lightning
2. A strong or harsh-tasting whisky (slang)

chain'-link fence noun

An openwork fence made from interconnecting wire

chain locker noun (nautical)

A compartment at the forward end of a ship for storing the anchor chain when the anchor is not in use

chain mail noun

Armour of small connected metal links, much used in Europe in the 12c and 13c

chainˈman noun (surveying)

An assistant to a surveyor who takes measurements with a chain

chain moulding noun (architecture)

Moulding in the form of a chain

chain of command noun

A series of military or civic functionaries, each taking orders from the one immediately senior to himself

chain of office noun

A heavy ornamental chain worn around the neck as a symbol of office

chain pier noun

A pier supported by chains like a chain bridge

chainˈplates plural noun (nautical)

Iron plates bolted below the channels on a ship, to serve as attachments for the deadeyes, through which the standing rigging or shrouds and backstays are secured

chain printer noun (computing)

A type of line printer with the characters mounted on a metal or plastic chain, forming a continuous loop

chain pump noun

A pump consisting of an endless chain, usu with discs

chain reaction noun

A process in which each reaction is in turn the stimulus of a further reaction

chain reactor noun

A nuclear reactor

chain rule noun

1. An arithmetical rule, so called from the terms of the problem being stated as equations, and connected, as if by a chain, so as to obtain by one operation the same result as would be obtained by a number of different operations in simple proportion
2. The rule for solving problems by compound proportion

chainˈsaw noun

A power saw with cutting teeth linked in an endless chain

chainˈshot noun

Two bullets or half-bullets fastened together by a chain, used formerly to destroy ships' rigging

chainˈ-smoke transitive verb and intransitive verb

To smoke (cigarettes, etc) non-stop, often lighting each from the previous one

chainˈ-smoker noun

chainˈstitch noun

A stitch in knitting or sewing resembling the links of a chain

• ratable value
• ratably
• ratafia
• ratafias
• ratan
• ratans
• rataplan
• rataplans
• rat-arsed
• ratas
• rat-a-tat
• ratatouille
• ratatouilles
• ratbag
• ratbags
• ratbite fever
• ratbite fevers
• rat-catcher
• rat-catchers
• rat-catching
• ratch
• pitifully
• pitifulness
• pitifulnesses
• pitiless