chain 1 S3 W2 / tʃeɪn / 名词
1 joined rings [可数和不可数名词] a series of metal rings which are joined together in a line and used for fastening things, supporting weights, decoration etc → link :
She had a gold chain around her neck.
a length of heavy chain
the Mayor’s chain of office (= a decoration worn by some British officials at ceremonies )
pull the chain British English (= flush the toilet )
a bicycle chain (= that makes the wheels turn ) → jewellery
2 connected events [可数名词] a connected series of events or actions, especially which lead to a final result :
the chain of events that led to World War I
The salesmen are just one link in the chain (= part of a process ) of distribution.
a rather complicated chain of reasoning → chain of command , food chain
3 shops/hotels [可数名词] a number of shops, hotels, cinemas etc owned or managed by the same company or person
chain of
a chain of restaurants
hotel/restaurant/retail etc chain
several major UK supermarket chains → chain store
4 connected line [可数名词] people or things which are connected or next to each other forming a line
mountain/island chain
the Andean mountain chain
chain of atoms/molecules etc technical :
a chain of amino acids
They formed a human chain (= a line of people who pass things from one person to the next ) to move the equipment.
daisy chains (= flowers tied together )
5 prisoners [可数名词，通常复数] metal chains fastened to the legs and arms of a prisoner, to prevent them from escaping
in chains
He was led away in chains.
ball and chain (= a chain attached to someone’s ankle at one end with a heavy metal ball at the other )
6 buying a house [可数名词，通常单数] British English a number of people buying houses, where each person must complete the sale of their own house before they can buy the next person’s house
COLLOCATIONS
types of chain
a big/major/large chain It is one of Europe’s biggest clothing chains.
a hotel chain Hilton is an international hotel chain.
a supermarket chain Many people buy all their food at one of the major supermarket chains.
a retail chain (= one whose business is buying and selling goods ) Large retail chains usually want to expand and build more stores.
a department store/video store/food store etc chain Morgan was the owner of a computer store chain.
a restaurant chain the Pizza Hut restaurant chain
a grocery chain These are two of Florida’s largest grocery chains.
a fast-food chain the fast-food chain, Burger King
a national/nationwide chain He was head of a national chain of grocery stores.
短语
be part of a chain The hotel is part of the MacDonald chain.
COLLOCATIONS
types of chain
a mountain chain The town of Besançon lies at the end of the Jura mountain chain.
an island chain the island chain from Asia to Australasia
a human chain (= a large number of people who form a line, a circle etc to do something ) Riot police formed human chains to block demonstrators.
a chain of atoms/molecules etc technical: Most fabrics are made of long chains of molecules.
动词
form a chain They formed a human chain passing buckets of water to the fire.
THESAURUS
mountain a very high hill : the highest mountain in Austria
hill an area of land that is higher than the land around it, which is like a mountain but smaller and usually has a rounded top : We went for a walk in the hills. | The house is surrounded by woods, farmland and gentle hills.
Mount ( also Mt written abbreviation ) used in the names of mountains. Don’t say ‘Fuji Mountain’ – say ‘Mount Fuji’ : Mount Everest
cliff the steep side of an area of land, often next to the sea : the white cliffs of Dover
precipice especially literary a very steep and dangerous cliff : They were standing on the edge of a precipice.
crag a high steep rock or mountain : An eagle sailed over the high crags.
ridge a long narrow area of high ground, especially at the top of a mountain : I could see a group of climbers high up on a ridge.
knoll a small round hill : a grassy knoll
volcano a mountain with a large hole at the top, through which lava (= hot liquid rock ) is sometimes forced out : the eruption of a volcano
summit the very highest point of a mountain : the summit of Mt Everest
peak especially literary the top of a mountain : the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas | a distant peak
range/chain a group of mountains or hills arranged in a line : the mountain range that is part of the border between Norway and Sweden
foothills a group of smaller hills below a range of high mountains : the Sierra foothills