n(1)链(子)(series of connected metal links or rings，used for holding，pulling，lifting or fastening things or as a decoration)[C，U]：a bicycle/watch～自行车链条/表链;an anchor～锚链;The dog is fastened to a post by a～.那狗被链子拴在柱子上。a lot of～很长的链;a length of～一段链子;～bridge 吊桥;wear a silver/gold～round one's neck 脖子上戴着银/金项链;

(2)一连串(系列)(series of connected or related things)[C]：a～of mountains山脉;a～of events/ideas/circumstances一连串的事件/想法/情况;a mountain～山脉;the island～s of the Pacific太平洋的链形岛屿;a nuclear～reaction核连锁反应;a～of supermarkets (a supermarket～) 连锁超级市场;a～of 100 food stores 100家食品连锁店;〖同〗series，sequence;

(3)束缚(sth that restrains or confines)[C，通常pl]：the～s of poverty贫穷的锁链;break the～s of captivity争脱束缚的锁链;live one's life in～s 不自由地生活;free the slaves from their～s 把奴隶从枷锁中解放出来;

(4)(一)链(measure of length equal to 66 feet(about 22m))[C](旧时长度单位，相当于66英尺);

→′chain-gang n 用链子连在一起干活的囚犯;′chain-letter n 连锁信;′chain-smoke v 一支接一支地抽烟;′chain-smoker n 一支接一支抽烟的人;′chain-store n 连锁店;

v(1)(用链子)拴住(fasten or bind with chains)[T+n 尤pass，T+n+prep(to)，T+n+adv(up)]：～a dog/a bicycle/a prisoner securely to a post把狗/自行车/囚犯牢牢地拴在柱子上;The dog was～ed up every night.那狗每天夜里都拴起来。〖同〗fasten，tie，bind;〖反〗unchain，unfasten，untie;

(2)束缚(confine or bind as if with chains)[T+n 尤 pass，T+n+prep(to)，T+n+adv(up)]：feel～ed to the kitchen sink/down with a wife，a house and children感到被拴在厨房的洗碗池边/被妻儿家庭束缚着;When her father was ill，she was～ed to the house.她父亲生病时，她被拴在了家里。His work～ed him to his desk.工作使他离不开办公桌。〖反〗free，liberate