Meaning

• A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.

  "He wore a gold chain around the neck."

• A series of interconnected things.

  "This led to an unfortunate chain of events."

• A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.

  "That chain of restaurants is expanding into our town."

• A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.

  "When examined, the molecular chain included oxygen and hydrogen."

• A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.

• A long measuring tape.

• A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres, 4 rods, or 100 links.

• A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.

• A 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).

• That which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond.

  "the chains of habit"

• (in the plural) Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.

• The warp threads of a web.

Meaning

• To fasten something with a chain.

• To link multiple items together.

• To secure someone with fetters.

• To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.

• To obligate.

• To relate data items with a chain of pointers.

• To be chained to another data item.

• To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.

• (associated with Acorn Computers) To load and automatically run (a program).