chain

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a group of shops, hotels, or restaurants owned by the same company.

n. a number of commercial establishments, such as retail stores or restaurants, under common ownership and branding.

“This coffee shop is part of a large international chain.”

“The retail chain announced plans to close several underperforming branches in the suburban shopping districts.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a series of things or events that are connected to each other.

n. a sequence of related items, events, or phenomena following one another in a specific order.

“The mistake started a chain of events that led to the accident.”

“The sudden resignation of the CEO triggered a chain of reactions across the global financial markets.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English

n. a line of people buying and selling houses where each sale depends on the others.

n. a sequence of linked house purchases, where each transaction is contingent on the completion of the preceding and succeeding ones.

“The sale of our house fell through because the chain broke at the bottom.”

“Estate agents often struggle to manage long property chains where a single buyer's withdrawal can collapse multiple transactions.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a list of data items where each one points to the next.

n. a sequence of data elements or mathematical objects linked by pointers or a total ordering relation.

“The program follows a chain of pointers to find the correct information.”

“In blockchain technology, each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, creating an immutable chain of data.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to tie or lock someone or something using a chain.

v. to fasten, secure, or confine an object or person using a chain; often used with 'to' or 'up'.

Español:encadenar

“They chained the gates shut to keep people out of the park at night.”

“The protesters chained themselves to the railings of the parliament building to draw attention to their cause.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to force someone to stay in a place or situation.

v. to confine or restrict someone's freedom or movement as if with physical chains.

“She felt chained to her desk because she had so much work to do.”

“Many young professionals feel chained to their mortgages, preventing them from taking risks in their careers.”