Definitions
1.nounA series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal."He wore a gold chain around the neck."
2.nounA series of interconnected things."This led to an unfortunate chain of events."
3.nounA series of stores or businesses with the same brand name."That chain of restaurants is expanding into our town."
4.nounA number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule."When examined, the molecular chain included oxygen and hydrogen."
5.nounA series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
6.nounA long measuring tape.
7.nounA unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres, 4 rods, or 100 links.
8.nounA totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
9.nounA sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).
10.nounThat which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond."the chains of habit"
11.noun(in the plural) Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
12.nounThe warp threads of a web.
13.verbTo fasten something with a chain.
14.verbTo link multiple items together.
15.verbTo secure someone with fetters.
16.verbTo obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
17.verbTo obligate.
18.verbTo relate data items with a chain of pointers.
19.verbTo be chained to another data item.
20.verbTo measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
21.verb(associated with Acorn Computers) To load and automatically run (a program).