a group of shops/stores, hotels, etc. owned by the same company 连锁商店◆The company sells its products through retail chains. 这公司通过零售连锁店销售产品。◆a chain of book stores 连锁书店⨁a fast-food / grocery / hotel / retail / supermarket chain 快餐／杂货／旅馆／零售／超市连锁店⨁a chain of chemists / clubs / restaurants / stores / supermarkets 连锁药店／俱乐部／餐馆／商店／超市
a series of things or people that are connected 一连串（人或事）◆Most organizations have a formal chain of command(= a system by which instructions are passed down from one person to another). 大多数机构都拥有正规的行政管理系统。◆a chain of events that led to the collapse of the company 导致公司倒闭的一连串事件