Meaning & use
chaining
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“chaining” is a form of “chain”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
The act of fastening or connecting things with a chain or in a linked series.
Grammar: Uncountable: the chaining of bicycles to a rack.
Patterns
- the chaining of something
The chaining of the gate stopped anyone getting in.
Chaining your bike is wise in a busy city.
The chaining of events led to the crisis.
noununcountabletechnical
A teaching method where a skill is broken into steps and learned in a linked sequence.
Grammar: Usually uncountable, in psychology or education: forward chaining, backward chaining.
Patterns
- forward chaining
- backward chaining
Teachers use chaining to help children learn hand washing.
In backward chaining, the learner masters the last step first.
The therapist described chaining as a way to build long routines.
verbtransitive
The -ing form of chain: fastening someone or something with a chain or linking things together.
Grammar: Takes an object: she is chaining her bike to the fence.
Patterns
- chain something to something
He is chaining the dog to a post while we eat.
Protesters were chaining themselves to the gates.
She is chaining the commands together in one script.
Word forms
| base form | chain |
|---|---|
| third person singular | chains |
| past tense | chained |
Common combinations
- forward chaining
- Forward chaining teaches the first step first.
- backward chaining
- Backward chaining starts with the final step.
- chaining together
- Chaining together several tasks saves time.
- method chaining
- Method chaining makes code shorter.
- chaining a bike
- He is chaining a bike to the post.
Synonyms and how they differ
- linking
- Is more general and does not require a chain or ordered steps.
- fastening
- Means attaching in any way, with no link to chains.
- sequencing
- Refers to ordering steps and not to connecting them.
- shackling
- Is used for restraining a person or animal with heavy chains.
Opposites
Word family
- chain noun
- A series of linked rings or connected things.
- unchain verb
- To free from chains.
- chained adjective
- Fastened with chains.
Commonly confused: chaining or changing?
chaining vs changing
Means altering, while chaining means linking.
Practice
In backward chaining, a learner first practices the ____ step.
Choose one answer.
Backward chaining starts with the last step so the learner finishes the task, and earlier steps are added; forward chaining is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chaining”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.