Chain — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈchān/

Meaning & Definition of Chain

Chain (noun)

  1. a series of usually metal links or rings connected to or fitted into one another and used for various purposes (such as support, restraint, transmission of mechanical power, or measurement)
  2. a series of links used or worn as an ornament or insignia
  3. a measuring instrument of 100 links used in surveying

Chain (verb)

  1. to obstruct or protect by a chain
  2. to fasten, bind, or connect with or as if with a chain; also, fetter

Chain (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a series of things linked together

    "the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain"

    similar: catena, catenation, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train
    related: chain reaction, belt, circle, cycle, vicious circle, continuum, gamut, gauntlet, scale, spectrum, flow, river, stream, file, line, queue, range, row, succession

  2. something that makes movement or progress difficult

    "this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice"

    similar: balk, bar, block, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
    related: catch, hitch, rub, snag, barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall, arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint, embargo, stoppage, delay, holdup, stall, burden, cumber, load, danger, hazard, peril, reef, adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardship
    near: catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus, advantage, break, edge, aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden, help

  3. something that physically prevents free movement

    "chains on the prisoner's ankles"

    similar: band, bind, bond, bracelet, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s), shackle
    related: captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction, entanglement, net, trammel, trap, collar, straitjacket, fastener, hobble, hold, hold-down, holding, tie

Chain (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to confine or restrain with or as if with chains

    "chaining up the dog in the backyard"

    similar: bind, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, shackle, trammel
    related: bit, hobble, hog-tie, iron, lash, secure, tie, truss, attach, fasten, join, link, confine, constrain, curb, hamper, hinder, impede, limit, restrict, entangle, tangle
    opposite: unbind, unfetter, unshackle
    near: emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue, undo, unfasten, untangle, untie, detach, disengage

  2. to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole

    "the prosecutor meticulously and brilliantly chained all the evidence together in his closing argument"

    similar: catenate, compound, concatenate, conjugate, connect, couple, hitch, hook, interconnect, interlink, join, link, yoke
    related: articulate, dovetail, integrate, interlock, intermesh, cord, string, wire, cement, coalesce, combine, fuse, unite, weld
    opposite: disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke
    near: detach, disengage, divide, part, split, cleave, rupture, sever, sunder

Related Entry: Chain reaction (noun)

Chain reaction is a different word from Chain. The synonyms below are for chain reaction, not for chain.

  1. as in catenation, consecution

    similar: catena, catenation, chain, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train, file, line, queue, range, row, succession, belt, circle, cycle, vicious circle, continuum, gamut, gauntlet, scale, spectrum, flow, river, stream

Related Entry: Chain reactions (noun)

Chain reactions is a different word from Chain. The synonyms below are for chain reactions, not for chain.

  1. as in catenations, consecutions

    similar: catenae, catenations, chains, concatenations, consecutions, nexuses, progressions, sequences, strings, trains, files, lines, queues, ranges, rows, successions, belts, circles, cycles, vicious circles, continua, gamuts, gauntlets, scales, spectra, flows, rivers, streams

Related Entry: Chain store (noun)

Chain store is a different word from Chain. The synonyms below are for chain store, not for chain.

  1. as in department store, dime store

    similar: boutique, department store, dime store, exchange, five-and-ten, mart, mini-mart, thrift shop, variety store, bazaar, emporium, shop, store, market, marketplace, outlet, showroom, big box, supercenter, superstore

Related Entry: Chain stores (noun)

Chain stores is a different word from Chain. The synonyms below are for chain stores, not for chain.

  1. as in department stores, dime stores

    similar: boutiques, department stores, dime stores, exchanges, five-and-tens, marts, mini-marts, thrift shops, variety stores, bazaars, emporiums, shops, stores, marketplaces, markets, outlets, showrooms, big boxes, supercenters, superstores

Related Entry: Food chain (noun)

Food chain is a different word from Chain. The synonyms below are for food chain, not for chain.

  1. a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food

    "Sharks eat fish that are lower in the food chain."

    "animals that are at the top of the food chain"

    similar: grouping, hierarchy, stratification, caste, class, estate, folk, gentry, order, stratum, bracket, echelon, grade, layer, level, tier, place, position, rank, standing, status, subcaste

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Chain

The most common words with a similar meaning to Chain:

catena, catenation, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train, balk, bar, block, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel, band, bind, bond, bracelet, cuff(s)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Chain

Words with the opposite meaning of Chain:

unbind, unfetter, unshackle, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke

Related Words for Chain

chain reaction, belt, circle, cycle, vicious circle, continuum, gamut, gauntlet, scale, spectrum, flow, river, stream, file, line, queue, range, row, succession, catch, rub, snag, barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall, arrest, bit, brake

Near Antonyms of Chain

catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus, advantage, break, edge, aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden, help, emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue, undo, unfasten, untangle, untie, detach, disengage, divide, part

Word Forms of Chain

Inflections: chained, chaining, chains

Origin & Etymology of Chain

Middle English cheyne, from Anglo-French chaene, from Latin catena

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Chain

Words & Phrases Containing Chain

chain belt, chain gang, chain letter, chain-link fence, chain mail, chain of command, chain pickerel

Frequently Asked Questions about Chain

What does "Chain" mean?

"Chain" means a series of usually metal links or rings connected to or fitted into one another and used for various purposes (such as support, restraint, transmission of mechanical power, or measurement). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a series of usually metal links or rings connected to or fitted into one another and used for various purposes (such as support, restraint, transmission of mechanical power, or measurement). It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Chain"?

Other words for "Chain" include catena, catenation, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence and string. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Chain" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Chain"?

There are 163 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Chain". Common alternatives include catena, catenation, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train and balk.

What is the opposite of "Chain"?

Antonyms of "Chain" include unbind, unfetter, unshackle, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever and disunite. Near antonyms include catalyst, goad, impetus and incentive.

How do you use "Chain" in a sentence?

Examples of "Chain" in a sentence: "the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain"; "this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice"; "chains on the prisoner's ankles".

Is "Chain" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Chain" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Chain" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Chain" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Chain"?

"Chain" is pronounced /ˈchān/.