Definitions
1.NounA series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal."He wore a gold chain around the neck.; The anchor is connected to the boat with a 100-metre long chain."
2.NounA series of interconnected things."a chain of mountains; a chain of ideas, one leading to the next; 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."side chain; 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, exactly equal to 22 yards, which is 4 rods or 100 links, and approximately equal to 20.12 metres; the length of a Gunter's surveying chain; the length of a cricket pitch.
8.NounA totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
9.NounA formal sum of cells in a CW complex of a certain dimension k (in which case the formal sums are called k-chains); a formal sum of simplices or cubes of a certain dimension in a simplical complex or cubical complex (respectively).
10.NounAn element of a group (or module) in a chain complex.
11.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).
12.NounThat which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond."the chains of habit"
13.NounIron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
14.NounA livery collar, a chain of office.
15.NounThe warp threads of a web.
16.VerbTo fasten something with a chain."You should chain your bicycle to the railings to protect it from being stolen."
17.VerbTo connect as if with a chain, due to dependence, addiction, or other feelings"Sometimes I feel like I'm chained to this computer.; She's been chained to her principles since she was 18, it's unlikely you can convince her otherwise."
18.VerbTo link multiple items together.
19.VerbTo secure someone with fetters.
20.VerbTo obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
21.VerbTo obligate.
22.VerbTo relate data items with a chain of pointers.
23.VerbTo be chained to another data item.
24.VerbTo measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
25.VerbTo load and automatically run (a program).