1A series of linked metal rings used for fastening or securing something, or for pulling loads.

1. 1.1A decorative chain worn round the neck as jewellery or as a badge of office.
   ‘a tall man with a heavy gold chain round his neck’
   More example sentences

   • ‘This example would have been worn on a chain round the neck, proudly displayed like an order or badge of loyalty.’
   • ‘He approached a car queueing at the drive-through, reached through the window and grabbed a gold chain from round the driver's neck.’
   • ‘Dressed up in a track suit with a baseball cap, rings on his finger and a silver chain round his neck, the 25 years old explains to the Vacuum how to get most of the brew.’
   • ‘The lady also shows the girdle of a Franciscan tertiary visible at her knee, an affiliation confirmed by the brown scapular pendant on a gold chain around her neck.’
   • ‘He was wearing a grey vest with six silver chains round his neck.’
   • ‘Both she and her mother wear jewelry, earrings; the girl also wears a chain with some gold trinkets, the mother, beads.’
   • ‘When Maradona appears on Dancing With The Stars via satellite on Friday he is wearing two stud earrings, a heavy crucifix on a chain around his neck, jeans and a red T-shirt tight enough to keep no secrets.’
   • ‘He wears the outfit of the young man about town, jeans, a colourful t-shirt, shiningly bright white trainers, a thick silver chain round his neck and one on his wrist, but there is a depth, too.’
   • ‘Snapping the bracelets on and the chain around my neck, I came to sliding the leather belt around my slender waist only to put the two chains on it.’
   • ‘She leaned away from him and lifted the gold chain from around her neck.’
   • ‘She was no longer biting her fingernail, but fidgeting with the gold cross on a chain around her neck.’
   • ‘The earrings, chains, chokers and necklaces stood out for their designs - elegant but subdued, stylish yet not loud.’
   • ‘Sapphires and jet decorated a chain around his neck, the gems glittering as coldly as his eyes.’
   • ‘Sometimes they enjoyed big success, as with the debt restructuring at Signet, the jewellery chain, and Wembley.’
   • ‘She took the pendant and clasped the chain around her neck.’
   • ‘At the foot of Mark's pulpit, positioned in the foreground, is an unmistakable self-portrait of Gentile; round his neck hangs the chain presented to him by Mehmed.’
   • ‘And she will be wearing Steve's wedding ring on a chain around her neck.’
   • ‘As in many countries, wealthier men sometimes wear large gold chains around their necks.’
   • ‘He wears a gold chain around a neck that is thick as a thigh.’
   • ‘I reached inside my blouse and pulled out a silver chain with a silver ring on it.’
   Synonyms

   locket, medallion, drop, stone

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2. 1.2A restrictive force or factor.
   ‘workers secured by the chains of the labour market’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Are we meant to consider that the arrival of the electronic book signals a new freedom for the reader, casing off the restrictive chains of the traditional book?’
   • ‘Do the work, stay in the shadows, accept what you are given and never think of organizing to challenge the structure that holds you in chains.’
   • ‘In a slave society, where body and mind are in chains, music portrays the fairer sex as a creature to be enslaved.’
   • ‘A small group started a movement that got the support of a nation to bring down an ideology that kept the country in chains.’
   • ‘As Jean Jacques Rousseau said - man is born free, but everywhere in chains.’

2A sequence of items of the same type forming a line.

1. 2.1A series of connected elements.
   ‘the action would initiate a chain of events’
   More example sentences

   • ‘It's a chain of successful events strung together to accomplish one goal.’
   • ‘The uncertainty surrounding him would cause a chain of events and interviews, due diligence any team looking to acquire Williams in a trade would insist upon.’
   • ‘The full direction is therefore necessary where ‘… lies constitute an important element in the chain of proof.’’
   • ‘None of the carcasses entered the human food supply chain or were rendered.’
   • ‘The food supply chain is comprised of inputs and outputs, explains Wilson.’
   • ‘And the Rayong plant may have the distinction of operating the world's longest supply chain.’
   • ‘The Defendant's intention to terminate in any event breaks the chain of causation.’
   • ‘Negligent intervening acts may or may not break the chain of causation.’
   • ‘And leaving the Waratahs set in motion the chain of events that took him to Ireland.’
   • ‘Neville's actions set in motion a chain of events that have become depressingly familiar these days.’
   • ‘But how could this boy start in motion a chain of events that would elicit such turmoil?’
   • ‘Nor will there be learning/teaching as occurs in chains of command or chains of functional support.’
   • ‘Crime, like everything else, has causes, some of which are injustices, and the presence of a wrong in the causal chain leading to a crime does not normally constrain state action.’
   • ‘All three of these systems create a movement, and if any portion of the kinetic chain does not work efficiently the movement is compromised, forcing other systems in the body to jump in and help out.’
   • ‘It identified the length of the reporting chains as a factor in why so much intelligence was unreliable.’
   • ‘The discovery of an aircraft he claims crashed into the sea after being badly damaged sets in train a shocking chain of events that forces him to confront his own demons from the war.’
   • ‘The arrival of Ali, her cousin from Iran, sets forth a chain of events, forcing a re-examination of her background and the world around her.’
   • ‘Further down the value chain, copper, lead and aluminium were all on the climb.’
   • ‘The logical chain leading from recovery from illness to an understanding of the animals' language is similarly opaque.’
   • ‘It wouldn't happen, even though (ex hypothesi) the government decision is part of the causal chain leading to the violence in question.’
   Synonyms

   period, spell, stretch, spate, bout

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2. 2.2A connected series of mountains.
   ‘a mountain chain’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The sun turned the chain of mountains on the western horizon an amber red, but it was slowly engulfed by the creeping darkness.’
   • ‘Most of it is in the Serra de Tramuntana, the chain of mountains that runs across the north of the island.’
   • ‘South along the chain of mountains you'll find the peak of Eriagon above the lake at the western entrance of Muriah.’
   • ‘A smaller chain of mountains, nowhere near as tall as Zenith ran along the outer rim of the rain forest of the northern territory, separating the land of the lizards from the rest of Darikoth to the south.’
   • ‘Within the Tethyan belt, Turkey is well known for extensive areas of ophiolitic rocks in the mountains of the Alpine chain.’
   • ‘A chain of mountains, the Apennines, juts down the center of the peninsula.’
   • ‘The view from the high ground includes endless chains of towering mountains, running from horizon to horizon.’
   • ‘It is a region of hot, dry, windswept plains broken in places by chains of low mountains.’
   • ‘Far on the horizon, there was a chain of mountains.’
   • ‘It was climbing up over a tall chain of mountains.’
   • ‘Far ahead to the north, across a rock-strewn gulf, was a chain of low-lying mountains locked away behind an otherworldly wall of haze.’
   • ‘Sasha jumped, seeing a chain of red mountains in the distance.’
   • ‘The Rocky Mountains form a majestic chain stretching from Canada through central Mexico.’
   • ‘The central spine of mountains, a last fling of the Andean chain, are matted in rainforest, threaded with trails, cooled by waterfalls and home to more birds per square mile than anywhere in the world.’
   • ‘On the landward side it was now white-capped mountain ranges, ranks of huge mountains that joined with the chain running down the centre of the continent.’
   • ‘In the far north are the alps; in Sicily, the Madonie form yet another chain of central mountains.’
   • ‘Many ridges of the Rocky Mountain chain exceed 2000 m elevation, and some have glaciers occupying the mountain tops and high valleys.’
   • ‘Ahead of him he saw a great shining sea and nearby was a chain of tall, snow-topped mountains.’
   • ‘The mountains touching the coast are steep and joined to the chain further inland.’
   • ‘From Tardets you can see the Pyrenean mountains rising up into a chain that extends all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.’
   Synonyms

   row, chain

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3. 2.3A group of hotels, restaurants, or shops owned by the same company.
   ‘the agency is part of a nationwide chain’
   More example sentences

   • ‘a chain restaurant’
   • ‘His company has the size to survive such a hit, he says, but many travel companies and hotel chains have been cutting staff, reducing shifts and eliminating holiday pay and benefits.’
   • ‘These wines will be offered to other distributors, as well as to key retailers and small hotel and restaurant chains across the country.’
   • ‘I own a hotel, a chain of restaurants, several factories and shares in shipping, insurance and defence.’
   • ‘Orders from restaurant chains and resort hotels were good.’
   • ‘The Corporation has a chain of 14 hotels in prime locations of Goa.’
   • ‘What's the largest fast junk food chain in the country?’
   • ‘Mexican merchants own most national supermarket chains, but American and French companies are rapidly gaining influence in this sector.’
   • ‘Beginning Jan.1 next year, officials said, the trial will become a compulsory regulation for all fast-food chain stores.’
   • ‘GUS owns retail chain Argos as well as a number of catalogue brands.’
   • ‘What's the problem with the ABC running a retail chain?’
   • ‘So it's easier to build a lasting business if you make soap or run a retail chain.’
   • ‘In Blackheath, even the few chain stores are run like small local shops.’
   • ‘The clients range from big chain stores, government right down to small businesses.’
   • ‘The department-store chain was forced by the Takeover Panel to issue a statement on Friday after a steady rise in its share price last week.’
   • ‘Supermarket chain Tesco has joined forces with Pendleside Hospice in a bid to smash this year's fundraising targets.’
   • ‘Yet the big chains stayed open, forcing smaller competitors to do the same to cater for the small but consistent demand for foreign racing.’
   • ‘Burton said that without a major reduction in labor costs, Giant and Safeway's share of the market will continue to slide, forcing the chains to cut jobs.’
   • ‘Making an exception for the Salvation Army might force the chain to welcome other charities that don't sit well with customers.’
   • ‘One major southern chain was forced last week to buy in vegetables from England after it became clear Irish suppliers were unable to meet demand.’
   • ‘Under pressure from powerfully conservative retail chains, the band was forced to accept a substitute.’
   Synonyms

   group

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4. 2.4British A situation in which the sale of a house or flat is dependent on the prospective buyer selling their own or the seller buying another first.
   ‘our offer was accepted this morning and there's no chain’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Most houses in the UK are sold as links in a chain, where buyers and sellers are all linked together in sequence.’
   • ‘For those in a chain, vendors should be aware that the days of the easily obtainable bridging loan are long gone.’
   • ‘I put an offer in on October 10 and we're stuck in a chain and have no idea when it'll be sorted.’
   • ‘However, some will offer to do so out of goodwill, or if you are seen as a good buyer, for example, because you are not in a chain.’
   • ‘You'd think I wasn't sitting here, cash (sorta) buyer, no chain.’
   • ‘I am beginning to wonder if you want to sell me a property - I am a cash buyer, I have no chain - what's going on?’
   • ‘There's apparently no chain on the other end, so moving in should be as fast as it takes to sort out the paperwork - maybe four to six weeks.’
5. 2.5A part of a molecule consisting of a number of atoms bonded together in a linear sequence.
   ‘Lewis structures can also be written for more complex molecules that have a chain of bonded atoms instead of a single central atom.’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Fatty acids that contain double bonds between carbon atoms in their chain are termed unsaturated fatty acids.’
   • ‘Thermoplastics consist of long carbon chains that are covalently bonded to chains of other atoms.’
   • ‘Diene elastomers can be recognized by the presence of double bonds in the main chains of the macromolecular molecules.’
   • ‘Here, the molecule is drawn out with the longest chain of carbon atoms as the central part.’
6. 2.6A figure in a quadrille or similar dance, in which dancers meet and pass each other in a continuous sequence.
   ‘The corps performs adaptations of folk-dance like material: chains, circle dances, and crossing steps.’
   More example sentences

   • ‘It could be prompted as a quadrille or used as the figure in a singing call or adapted to a patter routine by having the Four Ladies Chain instead of doing the Allemande Left, etc.’
   • ‘Step combinations are given for nineteen quadrille figures, such as "right and left," "hands round," "English chain," "ladies' chain," and "balance."’

3A jointed measuring line consisting of linked metal rods.

1. 3.1A measure of length equivalent to a chain (66 ft).
   ‘Shallow streams and intermittent streams without well defined channel or banks are not meandered, even when more than 3 chains wide.’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Regular lots are 30 chains wide and 66.67 chains in depth.’
   • ‘The original family home built in 1123 AD is a traditional square Norman castle four chains wide with turrets two chains high at each of the four corners.’
   • ‘Frank Lenthal's winning hit that broke a thirty year record at Elland, West Yorkshire was 13 chains 6 yards and 2 feet.’

4chainsA structure of planks projecting horizontally from a sailing ship's sides abreast of the masts, used to widen the basis for the shrouds.

1Fasten or secure with a chain.

1. 1.1Confine with a chain.
   ‘he had been chained up’
   More example sentences

   • ‘as an actuary you will not be chained to a desk’
   • ‘Movement was restricted because I was chained up, there was little chance of exercise.’
   • ‘I was chained up for most of the previous four and a half years.’
   • ‘It never said exactly what it was he did, but it must have been pretty bad, because he was all chained up.’
   • ‘The man had already made sure the pooch in the yard he was about to deliver to was chained up.’
   • ‘Mr Lowe said although his stud dogs were chained up they had huge pens.’
   • ‘She couldn't remember how long she had been chained up, or what day it was.’
   • ‘I'm talking about when Dumbo comes to see his mother but she's all chained up and can't get to him.’
   • ‘Houdini could get out of a glass box full of water in a couple of minutes, even chained up and in a straitjacket.’
   • ‘They had a huge Alsatian that they kept chained up in the side passage leading to their garden.’
   • ‘You know, Rather prides himself on not being chained to the anchor desk.’
   • ‘I refuse to be chained to a desk, and I won't be.’
   • ‘Kellerman gets chained to a desk while his past in the Arson department gets scrutinized.’
   • ‘When wolves stalk the flock, best not to chain the dogs.’
   • ‘A sibling showed authorities a pair of handcuffs he said were used to chain his brother in the basement, according to charging documents.’
   • ‘It hasn't worked for Haw so far, and I'm not sure it will, but I'm a bit worried that it might work for my pro-hunting Yorkshire friend next time she chains herself to the Commons railings.’
   • ‘They are chained inside tents or cordoned off in small areas of fields by circus owners in the hope of drawing in profits.’
   • ‘I've never been unhappier than when I was chained to a terminal for nine hours a day.’
   • ‘My fertile imagination cannot be chained to administerial tasks.’
   • ‘Two guys wake up chained by their legs in a disused washroom.’
   • ‘Cartooning as a day job meant chaining yourself to your table, scratching out a living in silence, interrupted only by frequent trips to the coffee shop.’