chain

Universal Words noun, verb noun metal rings 1 [C,U] a series of connected metal rings, used for pulling or fastening things; a length of chain used for a particular purpose: a short length of chain * She wore a heavy gold chain around her neck. * The mayor wore his chain of office. * a bicycle chain * The prisoners were kept in chains (= with chains around their arms and legs, to prevent them from escaping). connected things 2 [C] a series of connected things or people: to set in motion a chain of events * a chain of command (= a system in an organization by which instructions are passed from one person to another) * mountain / island chains * Volunteers formed a human chain to rescue precious items from the burning house. seealsoFOODCHAIN of shops / hotels 3 [C] a group of shops/stores or hotels owned by the same company: a chain of supermarkets / a supermarket chain restriction 4 [C,usually pl.] (formal or literary) a thing that restricts sb's freedom or ability to do sth: the chains of fear / misery in house buying 5 [C,usually sing.] (BrE) a situation in which a number of people selling and buying houses must each complete the sale of their house before buying from the next person IDIOMS see BALLn., LINKn., WEAK verb [VN] [oftenpassive] ~ sb/sth (to sb/sth)