tire chain
1
3.4
- noun
- /ˈtaɪər tʃeɪn/
- US
:
cadena para neumáticos
- Better load off the tire chains and the rope before the Grey Fox gets in.
- require tire chains
Examples
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I should have had a set of tire chains with me because being in Montana in the winter, you know you are going to need chains.
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Somebody threw a fucking tire chain.
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We hear the tire chains rattling on the snow.
Fiction book (2002) -
Woo heard the clank of tire chains at the same moment he saw Ross's car pull into the driveway.
Fiction book (1994) -
He could hear the tire chains in the next block, someone passing by on skis, a groan as someone slipped and fell.
Fiction book (1992) -
We also hired tyre chains (which are obligatory in mountainous areas) - he advised us to hire them, but at the same time he told us that most probably we would not be using them, as there would have to be several inches of snow deposited on the road to be able to use them.
Blog text (24) -
Many parks require tire chains for vehicles during snow seasons.
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I heard the tire chains crunching as they struggled for grip on the icy road.
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Make sure to carry tire chains in winter, as they improve traction on icy surfaces.
Synonyms
1
3.7
A chain put around a car tire to help it grip snow or ice
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'tire chain' is a straightforward noun–noun composition whose meaning is directly derivable as a chain used with a tire. A B1 learner who knows 'tire' and 'chain' can readily infer it is a chain fitted around a tire to improve traction (especially given the winter context); this compositional pattern is common across languages, so the expression is transparent.
Etymology
Tire chain comes from the simple image of a metal chain wrapped around a vehicle tire so the links can dig into snow and ice. That wrapped chain gives extra 'grip', so the phrase means a tool that helps you drive more safely on slippery roads.