a set of connected events, usually where one causes the next

His resignation was followed by a remarkable chain of events. 在他辞职之后，发生了一系列引人注目的事件。

In the story, a chain of cause and effect leads us on an emotional journey of two families.

Intervention like this can break the chain of debt and worry.

(a length of) rings usually made of metal that are connected together and used for fastening, pulling, supporting, or limiting freedom, or as jewellery

The gates were locked with a padlock and a heavy steel chain. 大门被一把挂锁和一根沉重的钢链锁着。

Put the chain on the door if you are alone in the house. 你要是一个人在家就把链子钩在门上。

Mary was wearing a beautiful silver chain around her neck. 玛丽脖子上戴着一条漂亮的银项链。

tied with chains

The hostages were kept in chains for 23 hours a day. 人质们一天里有23小时戴着镣铐。

He was pictured leaving the court in chains.

He stood to hear his sentence with his ankles in chains.

Men, women, and children were bound in chains and transported on slave ships.

The circus owners kept the elephants in chains and regularly beat them with metal poles.

Her ancestors were brought to America in chains.

a fact or situation that limits a person's freedom

At last the country has freed itself from the chains of the authoritarian regime. 这个国家最终从独裁政权的束缚中解放了出来。

a situation in which someone selling a house cannot complete the sale because the person who wants to buy it needs to sell their house first

Some sellers refuse to exchange contracts with buyers who are in a chain. 有些卖家拒绝和售屋链里的买家成交。

to fasten someone or something using a chain

It's so cruel to keep a pony chained up like that all the time. 把一匹小马驹一直那样拴着真是太残忍了。

They chained themselves to lampposts in protest at the judge's decision. 为了抗议法官的判决，他们把自己拴在了灯柱上。