1. C 链，锁链　 (length of) connected metal links or rings, used for hauling or supporting weights or for fastening or restraining things
2. C 一系列的事物　 series of connected things
3. C 联号，连锁店或旅馆　 group of shops or hotels owned by the same company
4. P 束缚　 thing that confines or restrains

　break a ～　打碎铁链
　fasten a ～　系紧锁链
　pull the ～　冲洗厕所
　shake off one's ～s　摆脱锁链
　tighten a ～　拉紧锁链
　clanking ～　叮当作响的铁链
　strong ～　坚固的锁链
　anchor ～　锚链
　bicycle ～　自行车链
　department-store ～　联营百货商店
　engineer's ～　工程师的测链
　family ～s　家庭约束
　gold ～　金链
　hotel ～　连锁旅馆
　human ～　一长列人
　iron ～　铁链
　mountain ～　山峦
　restaurant ～　联营餐馆
　the island ～s　岛屿群
　tire ～　轮胎防滑链
　watch ～　表链
　～ reaction　连锁反应
　～ store　连锁店
　in ～s　被镣铐锁着的，被囚禁
　link in a ～　链子上的一只链环
　put sb in ～s　给某人扣镣铐
　keep a dog on a ～　用链子把狗拴住
　a ～ of events　一连串的事件
　a ～ of misfortunes　一连串的灾祸
　put ～s on　给…上防滑链
　a ～ on sb's mind　思想上的束缚

　She had a silver peace symbol hanging from a chain around her neck.　她有一个银制的和平标志挂在项链上。
　She wore a gold chain round her neck.　她脖子上挂着一根金项链。
　The criminals were paraded in chains through the crowded streets.　罪犯带着镣铐被押着列队游街示众。
　Penologists condemn the practice of using chain gangs.　罪犯教育学家谴责那种把囚犯用铁链拴在一起做苦役的做法。
　Man is born free yet, everywhere he is in chains.　人生来是自由的，然而他却无处不受束缚。
　There are so many chain stores around that the shops in one town are often exactly the same as the shops in another.　到处都是连锁店，所以各个城镇的商店常常完全一样。
　With whispers and chain letters they spread the word.　他们又是窃窃私语，又是写连锁信，把消息传出去。
　If you are a chain smoker you may get lung cancer.　如果你一支接一支地抽烟，有可能得肺癌的。
　One link broken, the whole chain is broken.　一环脱，全链断。
　Each link that makes up a chain is equally important.　链子上面的每一环都同等重要，缺一不可。
　The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.　一环薄弱全局垮。

 ♣ a chain reaction
　连锁反应　series of events each of which causes the next
　It will trigger off a chain reaction.　那将引起连锁反应。
　The Government fears the strike may produce a chain reaction in other industries.　政府害怕罢工可能在其他行业产生连锁反应。

 ♣ a chain of, a series of
　这二者都有“一连串”的意思，但意义有所不同。a series of只表示数量，而a chain of含“前因后果”的意味。例如：

 ♣ 下面两个短语意思不同：

1. vt.用铁链锁住　 make fast with a chain or chains
2. vt.束缚　 bind down

　～ one's attention to sb　全神贯注于某人
　～ the dog　用铁链把狗拴起来
　～ the door　把门用铁链锁好
　～ the prisoners　把囚犯用铁链锁住
　～ firmly　紧紧地拴住
　～ secularly　受世俗的束缚
　～ stoutly　拴得结实
　～ tightly　紧紧地拴住
　～ off　用锁链拦断
　～ sb to a decision　使某人受一决定的限制

　She chained the door.　她把门用铁链锁好。
　They chained the prisoners.　他们把囚犯用铁链锁住。
　He chained the dog for the night.　晚上他用铁链把狗拴起来。
　That one was soon chained, and the two men left.　那人被锁住后，这两个人就走了。

 ♣ chain down　(v.+adv.)
　拴住，束缚　make fast with a chain or chains
　I didn't want to chain you down, feel free to use your own ideas.　我不想束缚你的手脚，你可以充分利用自己的智谋。
　Don't worry about the heavy load; it's chained down.　别担心装载量大，已经用链子拴住了。
　I feel chained down with a wife, a house and children.　我觉得受妻子家室之累。
 ♣ chain to　(v.+prep.)
　〈非正〉拴住，束缚　 confine with a chain
　She chained the wolf securely to the post.　她用铁链把那只狼牢牢地锁在那根柱子上。
　He chained his bicycle to the post.　他把自行车用铁链锁在那根柱子上。
　In former times, prisoners were chained to one another.　在古代，囚犯们被相互拴着。
　My mother always complained of being chained to the house.　妈妈总是抱怨自己被束缚在这栋房子里。
　Mother is chained to housework.　母亲被家务活束缚住了。
　Too many women feel chained to the kitchen sink.　许多妇女觉得自己被拴在了厨房的洗涤槽上。
　With a sick husband, she was chained to the house all day.　由于丈夫生病，她整天被拴在家里。
　Through all that lovely summer, I remained chained to my desk.　在那风光盈人的夏天，我一直被牵制在书桌旁。
 ♣ chain up　(v.+adv.)
　拴住　confine with a chain
　His father chained him up.　他父亲把他锁起来。
　Of course the dog makes such a noise; the poor creature is chained up all day.　难怪这狗汪汪叫个不停，这可怜的小家伙已被拴了一天了。

　［同义词］ n. link, series, string
　［词源］　古法语chaeine<拉丁语catena（链）