1. A series of linked or connected things or events
   "the chain of command";
   - concatenation
    
2. A series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
   "He secured his bicycle with a sturdy chain and padlock"
    
3. A necklace made by stringing objects together
   "a chain of beads";
   - string, strand
    
4. Anything that acts as a restraint
   "The dog strained against the chain that kept it in the yard"
    
5. A linked or connected series of objects
   "a chain of daisies"
    
6. (business) a number of similar establishments (stores, restaurants, banks, hotels or theatres) under one ownership
   "The fast-food chain expanded to include locations in 50 countries"
    
7. (chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)
   "The chemical chain of the polymer determined its flexibility";
   - chemical chain
    
8. A series of hills or mountains
   "the valley was between two chains of hills"; "The Andes form a long mountain chain along the western coast of South America";
   - range, mountain range, range of mountains, mountain chain, chain of mountains
    
9. A unit of length
   "The surveyor used a chain to measure the property boundaries"

1. Fasten or secure with chains
   "Chain the chairs together"
    
2. Connect or arrange into a chain by linking
   "They chained the bicycles together to prevent theft"

1. British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)
   - Ernst Boris Chain, Sir Ernst Boris Chain

Derived forms: chaining, chained, chains

Type of: arrange, biochemist, building block, business, business concern, business organisation [Brit], business organization, concern, constraint, fasten, fix, formation, geological formation, ligament, linear measure, linear unit, necklace, restraint, secure, series, set up, unit

Antonym: unchain

Part of: bicycle, bike, chain printer, chain tongs, cycle, molecule

Encyclopedia: Chain