[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/chain/)

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# chain

noun (chain, chains); verb (chain, chains, chained, chaining)

«chain» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A chain is a row of metal rings, called links, joined together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#m1)
2. A chain is a row of things joined or following one another, like a chain of islands or a food chain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#m2)
3. A chain is a group of shops or hotels with the same name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#m3)
4. To chain is to tie up with a chain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#m4)
5. A chain gang is a group of prisoners who are chained together while they work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#m5)

### In the lessons

links counted, or a length; sometimes a series of steps; in science, a food chain shows who eats whom; phrases «food chain», «paper chain», «chain reaction», «bike chain», «chain store»

### Examples

- A paper chain has 40 links. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x1)
- She adds 5 links each day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x2)
- Each link is 2 cm long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x3)
- How long is a chain of 10 links? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x4)
- Grass, rabbit, fox: that is a food chain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x5)
- He chained his bike to the fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x6)
- She wears a gold chain around her neck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x7)
- The shop is part of a big chain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x8)
- Hold hands to make a human chain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x9)
- One fall started a chain reaction of dominoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x10)
- "He isn't chained up yet," said Johnnie. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/#x11)

### Note

Total length = links × length of each. Trap: a chain closed in a circle may join ends, so the number of joins equals the links. A food chain starts with a plant.

## In Jewish tradition

Gold chains were made of twisted wire and attached to the high priest's breastplate. They fastened it to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. In the psalms chains bind captive kings, and pride is pictured as a chain about the neck. God also speaks of binding the chains of the Pleiades.

**Interpretation.** The breastplate carried the names of the twelve tribes. The chains are taken to show that the tribes are joined together on the priest's heart. The psalms' picture of pride as a chain is read as a warning that arrogance enslaves a person.

### Examples

- And they made upon the breastplate plaited chains, of wreathen work of pure gold. (Torah EXO.39.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/#x1)
- And thou shalt make upon the breastplate plaited chains of wreathen work of pure gold. (Torah EXO.28.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/#x2)
- And they put the two wreathen chains of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. (Torah EXO.39.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/#x3)
- To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; (Writings PSA.149.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/#x4)
- Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? (Writings JOB.38.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/#x5)
- Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment. (Writings PSA.73.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/#x6)

### Note

Total length = links × length of each. Trap: a chain closed in a circle may join ends, so the number of joins equals the links. A food chain starts with a plant.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «chain» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chain/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«chain» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chain.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «chain» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/chain/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«chain» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/chain.html) on Mova free.