kedjeliknande

kedjeliknande is a descriptive term used in Swedish to denote something that resembles a chain or consists of linked elements. The word combines kedja, meaning chain, with the suffix -liknande to yield "chain-like" or "link-like." It is used across disciplines to describe structures, sequences, or patterns that have a serial, unbranched topology, without specifying a causal mechanism.

As a descriptive adjective rather than a formal technical term, kedjeliknande is typically applied where a linear arrangement matters for interpretation. It can be used for physical structures, such as long, unbranched polymer chains or river channel networks that run in a series, as well as for biological macromolecules arranged in linear sequences, like polypeptide or nucleic acid chains. In social or information networks, kedjeliknande describes sequential or chain-based processes, such as stepwise transmission or referrals that proceed along a direct line of contact.

The term is flexible and context-dependent; it does not impose a strict definition of a chain. Instead, it signals a resemblance to chain-like organization, often contrasted with branched, lattice, or network-like configurations. See also related concepts: chain, linear polymer, polymer chain, chain reaction in some languages, and chain-like networks.