chainlike

Chainlike is an adjective used to describe objects, structures, or patterns that resemble or take the form of a chain: a series of elements connected end to end, forming a linear sequence with limited branching.

In chemistry and materials science, chainlike polymers are linear polymers in which repeating units are connected along a single backbone. This chainlike arrangement affects properties such as crystallinity, density, viscosity, and melting point. By contrast, branched or crosslinked polymers exhibit more three-dimensional connectivity and different mechanical behavior. Common examples of chainlike polymers include polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride.

In biology, many macromolecules are described as chainlike sequences. DNA, RNA, and proteins consist of long chains of nucleotides or amino acids connected by covalent bonds; the primary structure is a chainlike backbone that determines higher levels of structure and function. Chainlike properties also appear in protein secondary and tertiary structures as chains of residues that fold into functional forms.

In physics and materials science, chainlike concepts describe networks of filaments or fracture patterns that propagate along a line of connected segments. Chainlike fibrils, such as those formed by collagen or actin, resemble a linked array of elongated units and contribute to the mechanical behavior of fibrous tissues and gels.

In computing and information design, chainlike structures can describe sequential data organizations such as linked lists or chain-of-responsibility patterns, where elements are connected in a linear sequence rather than a tree or graph. The term is broad and its precise meaning depends on the disciplinary context.

See also: chain, linear polymer, polymer, polypeptide, DNA, protein.