chain

chaîne

Suite d’anneaux métalliques reliés, servant à retenir des objets, faire fonctionner des machines ou fabriquer des bijoux.

En anglais simple : A line of connected metal rings, used to hold things, move machinery, or make jewelry.

• She wears a gold chain.
• The chain on my bicycle broke.
• These heavy chains hold the gate shut.

Synonymes : string, rackle

Expressions courantes : gold chain, bicycle chain, metal chain

chaîne, série

Ensemble de choses liées entre elles ou qui se produisent les unes après les autres.

En anglais simple : A series of things connected to each other or happening one after another.

• One mistake started a chain of problems.
• The islands form a long chain.
• The news caused a chain reaction across the industry.

Comment l'utiliser : a chain of something (A chain of delays ruined our plans.)

Synonymes : series, sequence

Expressions courantes : chain of events, chain reaction, supply chain

chaîne

Groupe de magasins, d’hôtels ou de restaurants ayant le même nom et le même propriétaire.

En anglais simple : A group of shops, hotels, or restaurants that share a name and owner.

• She works for a hotel chain.
• The chain opened three new stores.
• Which restaurant chains serve breakfast?

Synonymes : streak, string

Expressions courantes : hotel chain, restaurant chain, chain of stores

chaîne

Objet fait d’anneaux reliés, porté comme décoration ou pour représenter une fonction officielle.

En anglais simple : An object made of connected rings, worn for decoration or as a sign of office.

• He clipped a chain to his wallet.
• The mayor wore her chain of office.
• Silver chains hung from their jackets.

Synonymes : string, rackle

Expressions courantes : wallet chain, chain of office, decorative chain

chaîne, entrave

Ce qui limite votre liberté ou vous maintient sous le contrôle de quelqu’un.

En anglais simple : Something that limits your freedom or keeps you under control.

• She broke the chains of fear.
• They struggled against the chains of tradition.
• He wanted to escape the chains of debt.

Comment l'utiliser : the chains of something (Education helped them escape the chains of poverty.)

Synonymes : bond, restraint

Expressions courantes : chain of habit, chain of slavery, break a chain

enchaîner

Attacher ou maintenir quelque chose à l’aide d’une chaîne métallique.

En anglais simple : To attach or hold something using connected metal rings.

• He chained his bicycle to a post.
• They chained the gate shut.
• Why is that dog chained up?

Comment l'utiliser : chain something to something (She chained her bike to the railing.); chain someone/something up (They chained the dog up outside.)

Synonymes : fasten, secure

Contraires : unchain

Expressions courantes : chain a gate, chain someone up, chain something to something, chain a bicycle

enchaîner, lier

Lier étroitement des choses ou empêcher quelqu’un de quitter un travail, une habitude ou une situation.

En anglais simple : To connect things closely, or make someone unable to leave a job, habit, or situation.

• Debt chained him to a job he hated.
• These duties chain her to her desk.
• We chained the tasks together into one process.

Comment l'utiliser : chain someone to something (Her responsibilities chain her to the office.); chain things together (The software chains several tasks together.)

Synonymes : bind, tie

Contraires : free

Expressions courantes : chain someone to something, chain things together