The meaning of Chain

noun

A sword used in former times, noted for the temper and elasticity of its blade.

plural noun

An iron bar with sliding shackles, formerly used for confining a prisoner's ankles.

Usage examples:

Stocks (also known as ‘bilboes’) were a commonplace feature of plantation discipline, but were used…

verb

Tie or fasten (something) tightly together.

Usage examples:

They bound her hands and feet

noun

A problematical situation.

Usage examples:

He is in a bind that gets worse with every passing minute

verb

To tie someone or something tightly, or to fasten things together

Usage examples:

The room was full of wooden boxes bound with twisted wire., fig. the club is home to a mix of peopl…

noun

A relationship between people or groups based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences.

Usage examples:

There was a bond of understanding between them

verb

Join or be joined securely to something else, especially by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure.

Usage examples:

Press the material to bond the layers together

phrase

The ropes or chains that hold prisoners and prevent them moving around or escaping

Usage examples:

Loose his bonds and set him free., she struggled to break free of her bonds., he set her free from …

noun

An ornamental band, hoop, or chain worn on the wrist or arm.

Usage examples:

She wore a gold bracelet and a matching necklace

noun

A piece of jewelry that is worn around the wrist or arm

Usage examples:

A silver bracelet

noun

A series of interconnected things.

Usage examples:

A concatenation of events which had finally led to the murder

noun

A series of events, ideas, or things that are connected

Usage examples:

A concatenation of circumstances/events

verb

Keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of (space, scope, or time).

Usage examples:

He does not confine his message to high politics

noun

The borders or boundaries of a place, especially with regard to their restricting freedom of movement.

Usage examples:

Within the confines of the hall escape was difficult

verb

To keep someone or something within limits

Usage examples:

The animals were confined in a large pen., harris does not confine her stage work to broadway., can…

noun

The route or direction followed by a ship, aircraft, road, or river.

Usage examples:

The road adopts a tortuous course along the coast

verb

(of liquid) move without obstruction; flow.

Usage examples:

Tears were coursing down her cheeks

noun

The particular path something such as an aircraft or ship takes as it moves, or the path along which a river flows

Usage examples:

A southern course will take our flight over texas., the ship was blown off course (= away from its …

noun

The end part of a sleeve, where the material of the sleeve is turned back or a separate band is sewn on.

Usage examples:

A red dress with a white lace collar and cuffs

verb

Secure with handcuffs.

Usage examples:

The man's hands were cuffed behind his back

noun

A blow given with an open hand.

Usage examples:

Luke gave flora a mild cuff

plural noun

Handcuffs.

Usage examples:

The quality of their handcuffs is quite close to darbies that have been made in great britain - the…

verb

Close or do up securely.

Usage examples:

The tunic was fastened with a row of gilt buttons

verb

To make or become firmly attached or closed

Usage examples:

[ i ] this skirt fastens at the back., [ t ] fasten your seatbelt.

noun

A chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.

Usage examples:

He lay bound with fetters of iron

verb

Restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles.

Usage examples:

There were no chains immediately available to fetter the prisoners

verb

To keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress

Usage examples:

Fettered by he felt fettered by a nine-to-five office existence.

noun

A chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.

Usage examples:

He lay bound with fetters of iron

verb

Restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles.

Usage examples:

There were no chains immediately available to fetter the prisoners

noun

A pair of chains that were tied round the legs of prisoners to prevent them from escaping

noun

A fetter or shackle.

Usage examples:

Thomas chase lay bound most painfully with chains, gyves, manacles, and irons

noun

A fetter or shackle.

Usage examples:

Thomas chase lay bound most painfully with chains, gyves, manacles, and irons

noun

A pair of lockable linked metal rings for securing a prisoner's wrists.

Usage examples:

He waved a pair of handcuffs under his prisoner's nose, forcing him to notice the razor sharp inner…

verb

Put handcuffs on (someone).

Usage examples:

He was led into court handcuffed to a policeman

verb

To put handcuffs on someone

Usage examples:

He arrived in court handcuffed to two police officers.

noun

A pair of lockable linked metal rings for securing a prisoner's wrists.

Usage examples:

He waved a pair of handcuffs under his prisoner's nose, forcing him to notice the razor sharp inner…

verb

Put handcuffs on (someone).

Usage examples:

He was led into court handcuffed to a policeman

plural noun

Two metal rings, joined by a short chain, that are locked around a prisoner’s wrists to prevent free movement

Usage examples:

She was taken away in handcuffs., on the plane, he was handcuffed to an fbi agent.

verb

Move (something) into a different position with a jerk.

Usage examples:

She hitched up her skirt and ran

noun

A temporary difficulty or problem.

Usage examples:

Everything went without a hitch

verb

Hook or entangle

verb

Walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.

Usage examples:

He was hobbling around on crutches

noun

An awkward way of walking, typically due to pain from an injury.

Usage examples:

He finished the match almost reduced to a hobble

verb

Walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

verb

Put or keep in prison or a place like a prison.

Usage examples:

He was imprisoned three times for his activities

verb

To put someone in prison or in a situation that is like prison

Usage examples:

If found guilty, he could be imprisoned for ten years., after weeks of snow, she felt imprisoned in…

noun

A strong, hard magnetic silvery-grey metal, the chemical element of atomic number 26, much used as a material for construction and manufacturing, especially in the form of steel.

Usage examples:

This shining metal was not raw iron but hard steel, which bent the softer wrought-iron blades of th…

verb

Smooth (clothes, sheets, etc.) with an iron.

Usage examples:

In fact, my mother and i also washed and ironed his clothes in case the minister has forgotten that…

phrase

Chains tied around someone to prevent them from escaping or moving

Usage examples:

It was common practice for the prisoners to be clapped in irons (= tied with chains)., he was kept …

noun

A long, narrow mark or band.

Usage examples:

A row of closely spaced dots will look like a continuous line

verb

Stand or be positioned at intervals along.

Usage examples:

A processional route lined by people waving flags

verb

Cover the inside surface of (a container or garment) with a layer of different material.

Usage examples:

A basket lined with polythene

noun

One of two metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening a person's hands or ankles.

Usage examples:

The practice of keeping prisoners in manacles

verb

Confine (a person or part of the body) with manacles.

Usage examples:

His hands were manacled behind his back

verb

To put manacles around a person's legs or arms

Usage examples:

They had manacled her legs together., his arm was manacled to a ring on the wall.

noun

One of two metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening a person's hands or ankles.

Usage examples:

The practice of keeping prisoners in manacles

verb

Confine (a person or part of the body) with manacles.

Usage examples:

His hands were manacled behind his back

plural noun

Handcuffs

noun

A tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather.

Usage examples:

A little town in the moors

verb

Make fast (a boat) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore or to an anchor.

Usage examples:

Twenty or so fishing boats were moored to the pierside

noun

A member of a north-western african muslim people of mixed berber and arab descent. in the 8th century they conquered the iberian peninsula, but were finally driven out of their last stronghold in granada at the end of the 15th century.

Usage examples:

For centuries córdoba was the moors' capital and one of europe's most sophisticated cities

noun

A repeated decorative design.

Usage examples:

A neat blue herringbone pattern

verb

Decorate with a repeated design.

Usage examples:

He was sitting on a soft carpet patterned in rich colours

noun

A particular way in which something is done or organized, or in which something happens

Usage examples:

Our weather pattern comes from the northwest., a whole variety of behavior patterns affect infants.…

noun

The process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state.

Usage examples:

Good opportunities for career progression

noun

The process of changing or developing towards an improved situation or state

Usage examples:

(a) progression toward(s)/to sth the progression towards fairer and more open markets is happening …

verb

Prevent (someone or something) from doing something; keep under control or within limits.

Usage examples:

The need to restrain public expenditure

noun

A length of thick strong cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, sisal, nylon, or similar material.

Usage examples:

There was no way down, even with a rope

verb

Catch, fasten, or secure with rope.

Usage examples:

The calves must be roped and led out of the stockade

noun

A number of people or things in a more or less straight line.

Usage examples:

Her villa stood in a row of similar ones

verb

Propel (a boat) with oars.

Usage examples:

Out in the bay a small figure was rowing a rubber dinghy

noun

A spell of rowing.

Usage examples:

The two friends had gone for a light row and were turning the double scull boat opposite the boat s…

verb

Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.

Usage examples:

The dog ran across the road

noun

An act or spell of running.

Usage examples:

I usually go for a run in the morning

verb

Move fast by using one's feet

adjective

Fixed or fastened so as not to give way, become loose, or be lost.

Usage examples:

Check to ensure that all nuts and bolts are secure

verb

Fix or attach (something) firmly so that it cannot be moved or lost.

Usage examples:

Pins secure the handle to the main body

adjective

Free from risk and the threat of change for the worse

Usage examples:

A secure job, people want to feel secure economically., the museum has a large endowment, so its fu…

noun

A particular order in which related things follow each other.

Usage examples:

The content of the programme should follow a logical sequence

verb

Arrange in a particular order.

Usage examples:

Trainee librarians decide how a set of misfiled cards could be sequenced

noun

A series of related things or events, or the order in which things or events follow each other

Usage examples:

[ c ] the first chapter describes the strange sequence of events that led to his death., [ c ] the …

noun

A number of events, objects, or people of a similar or related kind coming one after another.

Usage examples:

The explosion was the latest in a series of accidents

noun

A number of similar or related events or things, one following another

Usage examples:

A series of scandals over the past year has not helped public confidence in the administration.

noun

A number of similar or related events or things, one following another

Usage examples:

A series of events/interviews/meetings, a series of articles/books/studies this is the first of a s…

verb

Put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position.

Usage examples:

Delaney set the mug of tea down

noun

A group or collection of things that belong together or resemble one another or are usually found together.

Usage examples:

A set of false teeth

verb

Variant spelling of sett.

noun

A pair of fetters connected together by a chain, used to fasten a prisoner's wrists or ankles together.

Usage examples:

He tugged on the chain connecting my shackles together

verb

Chain with shackles.

Usage examples:

The prisoner was shackled to the heavy steel chair in the centre of the room

noun

One of a pair of metal rings connected by a chain and fastened to a person’s wrists or the bottoms of the legs to prevent the person from escaping

Usage examples:

The prisoner was led away in shackles., the convicts were shackled and led onto the bus., fig. she …

noun

A pair of fetters connected together by a chain, used to fasten a prisoner's wrists or ankles together.

Usage examples:

He tugged on the chain connecting my shackles together

verb

Chain with shackles.

Usage examples:

The prisoner was shackled to the heavy steel chair in the centre of the room

noun

A pair of metal rings connected by a chain and fastened to a person's wrists or the bottom of their legs to prevent them from escaping

Usage examples:

The shackles had begun to cut into his ankles., the press, once heavily censored, has managed to sh…

noun

Material consisting of threads of cotton, hemp, or other material twisted together to form a thin length.

Usage examples:

Unwieldy packs tied up with string

verb

Short for stringboard.

noun

A thin length of cord

Usage examples:

[ u ] a piece of string, guitar strings are made from steel or nylon., violins, cellos, and double …

noun

A number of people or things of a similar kind following one after the other.

Usage examples:

She had been secretary to a succession of board directors

noun

A series of things coming one after another

Usage examples:

[ c ] a succession of scandals, [ u ] in rapid succession he lost his job, his wife, and his health…

noun

A number of similar people or events that exist or happen one after another

Usage examples:

A succession of sth the company has been involved in a succession of accounting scandals., they emp…

verb

Tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement.

Usage examples:

The horse had been tethered to a post

noun

A rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement.

Usage examples:

Regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows

noun

A rope, chain, or other device used to attach a person or animal to a fixed object

Usage examples:

Asthma kept him tethered to an oxygen tank.

verb

Attach or fasten with string or similar cord.

Usage examples:

They tied max to a chair

noun

A piece of string, cord, or similar used for fastening or tying something.

Usage examples:

He tightened the tie of his robe

verb

Fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord

noun

A mark or a series of signs or objects left behind by the passage of someone or something.

Usage examples:

A trail of blood on the grass

verb

Draw or be drawn along behind someone or something.

Usage examples:

Alex trailed a hand through the clear water

verb

Teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behaviour through practice and instruction over a period of time.

Usage examples:

The scheme trains people for promotion

noun

A series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by integral motors.

Usage examples:

A freight train

verb

Educate for a future role or function

noun

Restrictions or impediments to freedom of action.

Usage examples:

We will forge our own future, free from the trammels of materialism

verb

Deprive of freedom of action.

Usage examples:

We have no wish to be trammelled by convention

noun

Restrictions or impediments to freedom of action.

Usage examples:

We will forge our own future, free from the trammels of materialism

verb

Deprive of freedom of action.

Usage examples:

We have no wish to be trammelled by convention