link definition

For Wiktionary's links, see Dictionary:Links

English link definition

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /lɪŋk/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Etymology 1

From Middle English linke, lenke, from a merger of Old English hlenċe, hlenċa (“ring; chainlink”) and Old Norse *hlenkr, hlekkr (“ring; chain”); both from Proto-Germanic *hlankiz (“ring; bond; fettle; fetter”). Used in English since the 14th century. Related to lank.

Noun

link (plural links)

1. A connection between places, people, events, things, or ideas.

   The mayor’s assistant serves as the link to the media.

   • 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson;  […], →OCLC:

     The link of brotherhood, by which / One common Maker bound me to the kind.

   • 1573, George Gascoigne, A Hundreth Sundry Flowres:

     And so by double lynkes enchaynde themselues in louers life

2. One element of a chain or other connected series.

   The third link of the silver chain needs to be resoldered.

   The weakest link.

3. Abbreviation of hyperlink.

   The link on the page points to the sports scores.

4. (computing) The connection between buses or systems.

   A by-N-link is composed of N lanes.

5. (mathematics) A space comprising one or more disjoint knots.
6. (Sussex) a thin wild bank of land splitting two cultivated patches and often linking two hills.
   • 2008, Richard John King, A Handbook for Travellers in Kent and Sussex:

     They used formerly to live in caves or huts dug into the side of a bank or "link," and lined with heath or straw.

7. (figurative) an individual person or element in a system
   • 2010, James O. Young, My Sheep Know My Voice: anointed poetry, AuthorHouse, page 32:

     But know that God is the strongest link.

   • 2010, William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler, Universal Principles of Design, RockPort, page 262:

     The fuse is the weakest link in the system. As such, the fuse is also the most valuable link in the system.

   • 2010, Stephen Fairweather, The Missing Book of Genesis, AuthorHouse, page 219:

     “ […] This is so that nobody can change the way every link must talk about the formula that I taught to make a real Chain of Universal Love and not a Chain of Love of a group or sect.”

8. Anything doubled and closed like a link of a chain.
   • 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], published 1708, →OCLC:

     a link of horsehair

9. A sausage that is not a patty.
10. (kinematics) Any one of the several elementary pieces of a mechanism, such as the fixed frame, or a rod, wheel, mass of confined liquid, etc., by which relative motion of other parts is produced and constrained.
11. (engineering) Any intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion, especially a short connecting rod with a bearing at each end; specifically (in steam engines) the slotted bar, or connecting piece, to the opposite ends of which the eccentric rods are jointed, and by means of which the movement of the valve is varied, in a link motion.
12. (surveying) The length of one joint of Gunter's chain, being the hundredth part of it, or 7.92 inches, the chain being 66 feet in length.
13. (chemistry) A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.
14. (in the plural) The windings of a river; the land along a winding stream.
    • 1822, Allan Cunningham, “The King of the Peak”, in Traditional Tales of the English and Scottish Peasantry, volume 1, page 222:

      'Dame Foljambe,' said the old man, 'the march of thy tale is like the course of the Wye, seventeen miles of links and windings down a fair valley five miles long. […] '

15. (broadcasting) An introductory cue.
    • 2002, Carole Fleming, The Radio Handbook, page 53:

      Too much talk on a music-based station can cause listeners who tune in for the music to go elsewhere. […] 'Some people will say “your link has to be 45 seconds long” but I don't do that,' explains the programme controller of Trent FM, Dick Stone.

Synonyms

• (connection between things): connection; See also Thesaurus:link

Hyponyms

Holonyms

• (element of a connected series): chain

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

link (third-person singular simple present links, present participle linking, simple past and past participle linked)

1. (transitive) To connect two or more things.
   • 1813, John Chetwode Eustace, A Tour Through Italy:

     All the tribes and nations that composed it [the Roman Empire] were linked together, not only by the same laws and the same government, but by all the facilities of commodious intercourse, and of frequent communication.

2. (intransitive, of a Web page) To contain a hyperlink to another page.

   My homepage links to my wife's.

3. (transitive, Internet) To supply (somebody) with a hyperlink; to direct by means of a link.

   Haven't you seen his Web site? I'll link you to it.

4. (transitive, Internet) To post a hyperlink to.

   Stop linking those unfunny comics all the time!

5. (transitive) To demonstrate a correlation between two things.
6. (software compilation) To combine objects generated by a compiler into a single executable.
7. (transitive, slang) To meet with someone.
   • 2017, Ramz, “Barking”‎^[1]:

     I might link my ting from Barkin'

Synonyms

• (to connect two or more things): affix, attach, join, put together; see also Thesaurus:join

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Plausibly a modification of Medieval Latin linchinus (“candle”), an alteration of Latin lynchinus, itself from Ancient Greek λύχνος (lúkhnos, “lamp”).

Noun

link (plural links)

1. (obsolete) A torch, used to light dark streets.
   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:

     Thou hast saved me a thousand marks in links and torches

   • 1854, Charles Dickens, chapter 7, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:

     You were coming out of the Italian Opera, ma’am, in white satin and jewels, a blaze of splendour, when I hadn’t a penny to buy a link to light you.’

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     Give me a loan of the link, Dick.

Derived terms

• linkboy
• linkman

Translations

Etymology 3

Unknown.

Verb

link (third-person singular simple present links, present participle linking, simple past and past participle linked)

1. (Scotland, intransitive) To skip or trip along smartly; to go quickly.
   • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

     On a sudden he was aware of a man linking along at his side. He cried a fine night, and the man replied.

Translations

See also

• Malvern Link

References

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

Anagrams

• kiln

Chinese link definition

Alternative forms

• 拎 (ling¹)

Etymology

From English link.

Pronunciation

Noun

link

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, computing) hyperlink (Classifier: 條／条 c)

Verb

link

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, computing) to link; to add a hyperlink

Czech link definition

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlɪŋk]
• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Noun

link m inan

1. link, hyperlink

Declension

Further reading

• link in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu
• link in Internetová jazyková příručka

Danish link definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English link (since 1995).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lenk/, [leŋɡ̊]

Noun

link n (singular definite linket, plural indefinite link or links)

1. link (hyperlink)

Inflection

Synonyms

• hyperlink

Dutch link definition

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɪŋk/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: link
• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

link (comparative linker, superlative linkst)

1. dangerous
2. (criminal slang) sly; cunning
3. (slang) jolly, nice

Inflection

Inflection of link
uninflected	link
inflected	linke
comparative	linker
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		link	linker	het linkst het linkste
indefinite	m./f. sing.	linke	linkere	linkste
	n. sing.	link	linker	linkste
	plural	linke	linkere	linkste
definite		linke	linkere	linkste
partitive		links	linkers	—

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English link, only since late 20th century.

Noun

link m (plural links, diminutive linkje n)

1. physical connection, as in a hardware cable
2. (figuratively) logical connection, as in reasoning about causality
3. hyperlink

Synonyms

• (physical connection): verbinding
• (logical connection): verband
• (hyperlink): koppeling, verwijzing

Derived terms

• linken

References

• M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]

German link definition

Etymology

From Middle High German linc, from Old High German *link; compare Old High German linka (“the left hand”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɪŋk/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

link (strong nominative masculine singular linker, comparative linker, superlative am linkesten or am linksten)

1. (only attributive and not comparable) left

   auf der linken Seite ― on the left

   ihr linker Fuß ― her left foot

2. (colloquial) untrustworthy
3. (colloquial) dubious, wrong, disreputable, questionable
4. (colloquial) sly, cunning

Declension

Further reading

• “link” in Duden online
• “link” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Hungarian link definition

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈliŋk]

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iŋk

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English link.^[1]

Noun

link (plural linkek)

1. link, hyperlink

   Synonyms: hivatkozás, hiperhivatkozás

Declension

Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	link	linkek
accusative	linket	linkeket
dative	linknek	linkeknek
instrumental	linkkel	linkekkel
causal-final	linkért	linkekért
translative	linkké	linkekké
terminative	linkig	linkekig
essive-formal	linkként	linkekként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	linkben	linkekben
superessive	linken	linkeken
adessive	linknél	linkeknél
illative	linkbe	linkekbe
sublative	linkre	linkekre
allative	linkhez	linkekhez
elative	linkből	linkekből
delative	linkről	linkekről
ablative	linktől	linkektől
non-attributive possessive - singular	linké	linkeké
non-attributive possessive - plural	linkéi	linkekéi

Possessive forms of link
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	linkem	linkjeim
2nd person sing.	linked	linkjeid
3rd person sing.	linkje	linkjei
1st person plural	linkünk	linkjeink
2nd person plural	linketek	linkjeitek
3rd person plural	linkjük	linkjeik

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Yiddish לינק‎ (link), from German link (“left”).^[1]

Adjective

link (comparative linkebb, superlative leglinkebb)

1. (colloquial) flighty, fickle, fishy, shifty, sleazy, phoney (unreliable, irresponsible, often dishonest)

   Synonyms: könnyelmű, léha, komolytalan, megbízhatatlan, szélhámos

   link alak ― crook, loafer

   link duma ― baloney, eyewash, claptrap, flannel

Declension

Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	link	linkek
accusative	linket	linkeket
dative	linknek	linkeknek
instrumental	linkkel	linkekkel
causal-final	linkért	linkekért
translative	linkké	linkekké
terminative	linkig	linkekig
essive-formal	linkként	linkekként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	linkben	linkekben
superessive	linken	linkeken
adessive	linknél	linkeknél
illative	linkbe	linkekbe
sublative	linkre	linkekre
allative	linkhez	linkekhez
elative	linkből	linkekből
delative	linkről	linkekről
ablative	linktől	linkektől
non-attributive possessive - singular	linké	linkeké
non-attributive possessive - plural	linkéi	linkekéi

Derived terms

References

Further reading

• (flighty, fickle, sleazy): link in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

Italian link definition

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English link.

Noun

link m (invariable)

1. (computing) link (hyperlink)

   Synonym: collegamento

Derived terms

• linkare

Lithuanian link definition

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [liŋk]

Preposition

lĩnk

1. toward (used with genitive case)

Pennsylvania German link definition

Etymology

Compare German link.

Adjective

link

1. left, left-hand

Polish link definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English link.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /liŋk/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iŋk
• Syllabification: link

Noun

link m inan

1. link, hyperlink

   Synonym: hiperłącze

Declension

Further reading

• link in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• link in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese link definition

Alternative forms

• linque

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English link.

Noun

link m (plural links)

1. (computing) link (text or a graphic that can be activated to open another document)

   Synonyms: hiperligação, ligação

Romanian link definition

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English link.

Noun

link n (plural linkuri)

1. link

Declension

Spanish link definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English link.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlink/ [ˈlĩŋk]
• Rhymes: -ink
• Syllabification: link

Noun

link m (plural links)

1. (computing) link (text or a graphic that can be activated to open another document)

   Synonym: enlace

   • 2019 April 8, Astrid Morales, “Nueva estafa busca robar credenciales de usuarios de Netflix”, in Prensa Libre‎^[2]:

     En el link puede observarse que no hace referencia a la compañía y que el servidor corresponde a un servicio de hosting gratuito de Emiratos Árabes.

     At the link you can see that it does not reference the company and that the server belongs to a free hosting service from the [United] Arab Emirates.

Derived terms