I. link 1 S3 W2 AC /lɪŋk/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ link , ↑ linkage ; verb : ↑ link ]
1 . be linked if two things are linked, they are related in some way:
Police think the murders are linked.
be linked to/with something
Some birth defects are linked to smoking during pregnancy.
be closely/directly/strongly etc linked
Our economy is inextricably linked with America’s.
2 . MAKE CONNECTION [transitive] to make a connection between two or more things or people:
A love of nature links the two poets.
link something/somebody to/with something
Exactly how do we link words to objects?
link somebody/something together
Strong family ties still linked them together.
3 . JOIN [transitive] to physically join two or more things, people, or places SYN connect
link something/somebody to/with something
The pipe must be linked to the cold water supply.
link somebody/something together
The climbers were linked together by ropes.
link something and something
A long bridge links Venice and the mainland.
He walked with her, linking arms (=putting his arm around her arm) .
4 . SHOW CONNECTION [transitive] to show or say that there is a connection between two people, situations, or things
link something/somebody to/with something
He denied reports linking him to Colombian drug dealers.
5 . MAKE SOMETHING DEPEND ON SOMETHING [transitive] to make one thing or situation depend on another thing or situation
link something to something
Pay increases will now be linked to performance.
⇨ ↑ index-linked
6 . [transitive] ( also link up ) to connect computers, broadcast systems etc, so that electronic messages can be sent between them
link something to/with something
Local terminals are linked to the central computer.
link in phrasal verb British English
1 . to connect with another idea, statement, type of work etc, especially in a way that is useful SYN tie in
link in with
This point links in with our earlier discussion.
2 . to happen at the same time as something else SYN tie in
link in with
The Minister’s visit was scheduled to link in with the meeting in Harare.
link up phrasal verb
1 . to connect with something or to make a connection between things, especially so that they can work together
link up with
The train links up with the ferry at Dover.
link something ↔ up (with something)
The next stage is to link the film up with the soundtrack.
2 . to connect computers, broadcast systems etc so that electronic messages can be sent between them
link something ↔ up (to/with something)
All these PCs are linked up to the network.
The Internet allows people from all over the world to link up for chat sessions.
3 . to join with someone so that you can do something together
link up with
We linked up with the Daily Express to help run the campaign.
⇨ ↑ linkup
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to join things together
▪ join to make two things come together and stay in that position. Join is used about fixing two things together permanently, so that they form a single thing:
Doctors used a metal rod to join the two pieces of bone together.
▪ attach to join one thing to another, so that it stays in position. Attach is often used when you can separate the two things later:
She attached the photo to the letter with a paper clip.
|
The boards are attached with nails.
|
On the wall, attached with adhesive tape, was a New York City subway map.
▪ connect ( also connect up ) to join pieces of equipment together, especially with a wire or pipe, so that electricity, gas, water etc can pass from one to another:
Have you connected up the speakers to the stereo?
|
The hoses that connect the radiator to the engine are leaking.
▪ link ( also link up ) to connect machines, systems, computers etc, so that electronic signals can pass from one to another:
All the office PCs are linked to the main server.
II. link 2 S3 W2 AC BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ link , ↑ linkage ; verb : ↑ link ]
[ Sense 1-6, 8: Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old Norse ; Origin: hlekkr ]
[ Sense 7: Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: links 'rising ground, sand hills' (11-19 centuries) , from Old English hlincas ]
1 . a way in which two things or ideas are related to each other
link between something (and something)
the link between drug use and crime
There are a number of links between the two theories.
2 . a relationship or connection between two or more people, countries, organizations etc
link between
the close link between teacher and student
link with
The company has strong links with big investors.
forge/establish links
Organizers of the project hope that international links will be forged.
3 . a person or thing that makes possible a relationship or connection with someone or something else
link with
For elderly people, TV is a vital link with the outside world.
4 . rail/road/telephone etc link something that makes communication or travel between two places possible:
The office has direct computer links to over 100 firms.
5 . one of the rings in a chain
6 . link in the chain one of the stages involved in a process
7 . the links a piece of ground near the sea where golf is played SYN golf links
8 . a special word or picture in an Internet document that you ↑ click on to move quickly to another part of the same document or to another document ⇨ hyperlink :
Send an email to the above address to report a broken link (=a link that is not working properly) .
⇨ ↑ cuff link , ↑ missing link , ⇨ weak/weakest link at ↑ weak (15)