[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

chain \chain\ ch=an, n. f. cha^ine, fr. l. catena. cf.
   catenate.
   1. a series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected,
      or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as
      of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and
      transmission of mechanical power, etc.
      1913 webster

            they put a chain of gold about his neck. --dan. v.
                                                  29.
      1913 webster

   2. that which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a
      bond; as, the chains of habit.
      1913 webster

            driven down
            to chains of darkness and the undying worm.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   3. a series of things linked together; or a series of things
      connected and following each other in succession; as, a
      chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas.
      1913 webster

   4. surv. an instrument which consists of links and is used
      in measuring land.
      1913 webster

   note: one commonly in use is gunter's chain, which consists
         of one hundred links, each link being seven inches and
         ninety-two one hundredths in length; making up the
         total length of rods, or sixty-six, feet; hence, a
         measure of that length; hence, also, a unit for land
         measure equal to four rods square, or one tenth of an
         acre.
         1913 webster

   5. pl. naut. iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to
      bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the
      channels.
      1913 webster

   6. weaving the warp threads of a web. --knight.
      1913 webster

   chain belt mach., a belt made of a chain; -- used for
      transmitting power.

   chain boat, a boat fitted up for recovering lost cables,
      anchors, etc.

   chain bolt
      a naut. the bolt at the lower end of the chain plate,
          which fastens it to the vessel's side.
      b a bolt with a chain attached for drawing it out of
          position.

   chain bond. see chain timber.

   chain bridge, a bridge supported by chain cables; a
      suspension bridge.

   chain cable, a cable made of iron links.

   chain coral zool., a fossil coral of the genus
      halysites, common in the middle and upper silurian
      rocks. the tubular corallites are united side by side in
      groups, looking in an end view like links of a chain. when
      perfect, the calicles show twelve septa.

   chain coupling.
      a a shackle for uniting lengths of chain, or connecting
          a chain with an object.
      b railroad supplementary coupling together of cars
          with a chain.

   chain gang, a gang of convicts chained together.

   chain hook naut., a hook, used for dragging cables about
      the deck.

   chain mail, flexible, defensive armor of hammered metal
      links wrought into the form of a garment.

   chain molding arch., a form of molding in imitation of a
      chain, used in the normal style.

   chain pier, a pier suspended by chain.

   chain pipe naut., an opening in the deck, lined with
      iron, through which the cable is passed into the lockers
      or tiers.

   chain plate shipbuilding, one of the iron plates or
      bands, on a vessel's side, to which the standing rigging
      is fastened.

   chain pulley, a pulley with depressions in the periphery of
      its wheel, or projections from it, made to fit the links
      of a chain.

   chain pumps. see in the vocabulary.

   chain rule arith., a theorem for solving numerical
      problems by composition of ratios, or compound proportion,
      by which, when several ratios of equality are given, the
      consequent of each being the same as the antecedent of the
      next, the relation between the first antecedent and the
      last consequent is discovered.

   chain shot mil., two cannon balls united by a shot chain,
      formerly used in naval warfare on account of their
      destructive effect on a ship's rigging.

   chain stitch. see in the vocabulary.

   chain timber. arch. see bond timber, under bond.

   chain wales. naut. same as channels.

   chain wheel. see in the vocabulary.

   closed chain, open chain chem., terms applied to the
      chemical structure of compounds whose rational formulae
      are written respectively in the form of a closed ring see
      benzene nucleus, under benzene, or in an open
      extended form.

   endless chain, a chain whose ends have been united by a
      link.
      1913 webster
see also:
catenate chain belt chain boat chain bolt chain bond chain timber 
chain bridge chain cable chain coral halysites chain coupling 
chain gang chain hook chain mail chain molding chain pier 
chain pipe chain plate chain pulley chain pumps chain rule 
chain shot chain stitch bond timber bond chain wales 
channels chain wheel closed chain open chain benzene nucleus 
benzene endless chain 

Chain >> C Words
Chain, definition of term: Chain
chain_pag1.html

Pumps >> P Words
Pumps, definition of term: Pumps
pumps_pag1.html

Chain Reaction >> C Words
Chain Reaction, definition of term: Chain Reaction
chain+reaction_pag1.html

Chain Saw >> C Words
Chain Saw, definition of term: Chain Saw
chain+saw_pag1.html

Chain Mail >> C Words
Chain Mail, definition of term: Chain Mail
chain+mail_pag1.html

Chain Gang >> C Words
Chain Gang, definition of term: Chain Gang
chain+gang_pag1.html

Chain Letter >> C Words
Chain Letter, definition of term: Chain Letter
chain+letter_pag1.html

Mountain Chain >> M Words
Mountain Chain, definition of term: Mountain Chain
mountain+chain_pag1.html

Food Chain >> F Words
Food Chain, definition of term: Food Chain
food+chain_pag1.html

Daisy Chain >> D Words
Daisy Chain, definition of term: Daisy Chain
daisy+chain_pag1.html

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