link

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

link, n. [Prob. corrupted from lint and this for lunt a torch, match, D. lont match; akin to G. lunte, cf. MHG. lÜnden to burn. Cf. Lunt, Linstock.].

 A torch made of tow and pitch, or the like.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

link, n. [OE. linke, AS. hlence; akin to Sw. länk ring of a chain, Dan. lænke chain, Icel. hlekkr; cf. G. gelenk joint, link, ring of a chain, lenken to bend.].

•  A single ring or division of a chain.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence: Anything, whether material or not, which binds together, or connects, separate things; a part of a connected series; a tie; a bond.  [1913 Webster]

  "The link of brotherhood, by which
  One common Maker bound me to the kind."  [1913 Webster]

  "And so by double links enchained themselves in lover's life."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything doubled and closed like a link; as, a link of horsehair.  Mortimer.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any one of the several elementary pieces of a mechanism, as the fixed frame, or a rod, wheel, mass of confined liquid, etc., by which relative motion of other parts is produced and constrained.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion, especially a short connecting rod with a bearing at each end; specifically (Steam Engine), 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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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. Cf. Chain, n., 4.  [1913 Webster]
•  A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; -- applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.  [1913 Webster]
•  Sausages; -- because linked together.

link, n. [See Linch.].

•  A hill or ridge, as a sand hill, or a wooded or turfy bank between cultivated fields, etc.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A winding of a river; also, the ground along such a winding; a meander; -- usually in pl.

  "The windings or “links” of the Forth above and below Stirling are extremely tortuous."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  Sand hills with the surrounding level or undulating land, such as occur along the seashore, a river bank, etc.

  "Golf may be played on any park or common, but its original home is the “links” or common land which is found by the seashore, where the short close tuft, the sandy subsoil, and the many natural obstacles in the shape of bents, whins, sand holes, and banks, supply the conditions which are essential to the proper pursuit of the game."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  Hence, any such piece of ground where golf is played; a golf course.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

link, v. t. 

 To connect or unite with a link or as with a link; to join; to attach; to unite; to couple.  [1913 Webster]
"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."  [1913 Webster]

link, v. i. 

 To be connected.  [1913 Webster]
"No one generation could link with the other."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

link, n. & v.
--n.
1 one loop or ring of a chain etc.
2 a a connecting part, esp. a thing or person that unites or provides continuity; one in a series. b a state or means of connection.
3 a means of contact by radio or telephone between two points.
4 a means of travel or transport between two places.
5 = cuff-link (see CUFF(1)).
6 a measure equal to one-hundredth of a surveying chain (7.92 inches).
--v.
1 tr. (foll. by together, to, with) connect or join (two things or one to another).
2 tr. clasp or intertwine (hands or arms).
3 intr. (foll. by on, to, in to) be joined; attach oneself to (a system, company, etc.).

Idiom

link up (foll. by with) connect or combine. link-up n. an act or result of linking up.

link, n. hist. a torch of pitch and tow for lighting the way in dark streets.

Etymology

16th c.: perh. f. med.L li(n)chinus wick f. Gk lukhnos light

THESAURUS

link

accord, accouple, accumulate, addition, adjunct, affairs, affiliation, affinity, agent, agglutinate, alliance, ally, amass, ankle, appendage, apply, approximation, arm, articulate, articulation, assemblage, assemble, associate, association, band, be continuous, bind, bond, bough, boundary, bracket, branch, bridge, bridge over, broker, bunch, bunch up, butt, catenate, cement, cervix, chain, clap together, clinch, closeness, closure, clot, cluster, collect, combination, combine, come together, component, comprise, concatenate, conglobulate, congregate, conjoin, conjugate, connect, connect up, connectedness, connecting link, connecting rod, connection, connector, constituent, contiguity, continuate, continue, contrariety, converge, copulate, correlate, couple, coupling, cover, cresset, crowd, date, dealings, deduction, disjunction, distributor, dovetail, draw a parallel, elbow, element, embrace, encompass, equate, filiation, flambeau, flaming torch, flare, flock together, flow together, forgather, form a series, fuse, fusee, gang around, gang up, gather, gather around, gliding joint, glue, go-between, hand, herd together, hinge, hinged joint, hip, hive, homology, horde, huddle, identify, identify with, imp, include, intercourse, interdependence, interface, intermediary, intermedium, interrelate, intimacy, jobber, join, joining, joint, junction, juncture, knee, knot, knuckle, lay together, league, leg, liaison, ligament, ligature, limb, link up, linkage, linking, lobe, lobule, lump together, maintain continuity, marry, marshal, mass, mediary, mediator, medium, meet, member, merge, middleman, mill, miter, mobilize, mortise, muster, mutual attraction, nearness, neck, nexus, offshoot, organ, pair, parallel, parallelize, piece together, pinion, pivot, pivot joint, propinquity, proximity, put together, rabbet, rally, rally around, ramification, rapport, relate, relatedness, relation, relations, relationship, relativize, rendezvous, roll into one, run on, runner, scarf, scion, seam, seethe, shoulder, signal flare, similarity, solder, span, splice, spray, sprig, spur, stick together, stitch, stream, string, string together, surge, suture, swarm, switch, sympathy, symphysis, tail, take in, tape, tendril, thread, throng, tie, tie rod, tie-in, tie-up, toggle, toggle joint, torch, twig, unify, union, unite, vinculum, wed, weld, wholesaler, wing, wrist, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

link

Relation

N relation, bearing, reference, connection, concern, cognation, correlation, analogy, similarity, affinity, homology, alliance, homogeneity, association, approximation, filiation, interest, relevancy, dependency, relationship, relative position, comparison, ratio, proportion, link, tie, bond of union, relative, correlative, cognate, relating to, relative to, in relation with, referable or referrible to, belonging to, appurtenant to, in common with, related, connected, implicated, associated, affiliated, allied to, en rapport, in touch with, approximative, approximating, proportional, proportionate, proportionable, allusive, comparable, in the same category, like, relevant, applicable, equiparant, relatively, pertinently, thereof, as to, as for, as respects, as regards, about, concerning, anent, relating to, as relates to, with relation, with reference to, with respect to, with regard to, in respect of, while speaking of, a propos of, in connection with, by the way, by the by, whereas, for as much as, in as much as, in point of, as far as, on the part of, on the score of, quoad hoc, pro re nata, under the head of, of, in the matter of, in re, thereby hangs a tale.

VB be related, have a relation, relate to, refer to, bear upon, regard, concern, touch, affect, have to do with, pertain to, belong to, appertain to, answer to, interest, bring into relation with, bring to bear upon, connect, associate, draw a parallel, link.

Correlation

N correlation, reciprocalness, reciprocity, reciprocation, mutuality, correlation, interdependence, interrelation, connection, link, association, interchange, exchange, barter, reciprocator, reprocitist, reciprocal, mutual, commutual, correlative, reciprocative, interrelated, closely related, alternate, interchangeable, interdependent, international, complemental, complementary, mutually, mutatis mutandis, vice versa, each other, one another, by turns, reciprocally, happy in our mutual help.

Junction

N junction, joining, joinder, union connection, conjunction, conjugation, annexion, annexation, annexment, astriction, attachment, compagination, vincture, ligation, alligation, accouplement, marriage infibulation, inosculation, symphysis, anastomosis, confluence, communication, concatenation, meeting, reunion, assemblage, coition, copulation, sex, sexual congress, sexual conjunction, sexual intercourse, love-making, joint, joining, juncture, pivot, hinge, articulation, commissure, seam, gore, gusset, suture, stitch, link, miter mortise, closeness, tightness coherence, combination, annexationist, joined, joint, conjoint, conjunct, corporate, compact, hand in hand, firm, fast, close, tight, taut, taught, secure, set, intervolved, inseparable, indissoluble, insecable, severable, jointly, in conjunction with, fast, firmly intimately, tria juncta in uno.

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Part

N part, portion, dose, item, particular, aught, any, division, ward, subdivision, section, chapter, clause, count, paragraph, verse, article, passage, sector, segment, fraction, fragment, cantle, frustum, detachment, parcel, piece, lump, bit cut, cutting, chip, chunk, collop, slice, scale, lamina, small part, morsel, particle, installment, dividend, share, debris, odds and ends, oddments, detritus, excerpta, member, limb, lobe, lobule, arm, wing, scion, branch, bough, joint, link, offshoot, ramification, twig, bush, spray, sprig, runner, leaf, leaflet, stump, component part, sarmentum, compartment, department, county, fractional, fragmentary, sectional, aliquot, divided, in compartments, multifid, disconnected, partial, partly, in part, partially, piecemeal, part by part, by by installments, by snatches, by inches, by driblets, bit by bit, inch by inch, foot by foot, drop by drop, in detail, in lots.

Term

N term, rank, station, stage, step, degree, scale, remove, grade, link, peg, round of the ladder, status, position, place, point, mark, pas, period, pitch, stand, standing, footing, range.

Length

N length, longitude, span, mileage, distance, line, bar, rule, stripe, streak, spoke, radius, lengthening, prolongation, production, protraction, tension, tensure, extension, line, nail, inch, hand, palm, foot, cubit, yard, ell, fathom, rood, pole, furlong, mile, league, chain, link, arpent, handbreadth, jornada, kos, vara, astronomical unit, AU, light- year, parsec, nanometer, nm, micron, micrometer, millimicron, millimeter, mm, centimeter, cm, meter, kilometer, km, pedometer, perambulator, scale, long, longsome, lengthy, wiredrawn, outstretched, lengthened, sesquipedalian, interminable, no end of, macrocolous, linear, lineal, longitudinal, oblong, as long as my arm, as long as today and tomorrow, unshortened &c (shorten), lengthwise, at length, longitudinally, endlong, along, tandem, in a line, in perspective, from end to end, from stem to stern, from head to foot, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, from top to toe, fore and aft.

Crossing

VB cross, decussate, intersect, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, interdigitate, interlink, twine, entwine, weave, inweave, twist, wreathe, anastomose, inosculate, dovetail, splice, link, lace, tat, mat, plait, plat, braid, felt, twill, tangle, entangle, ravel, net, knot, dishevel, raddle.

Luminary

N luminary, light, flame, spark, scintilla, phosphorescence, fluorescence, sun, orb of day, Phoebus, Apollo, Aurora, star, orb, meteor, falling star, shooting star, blazing star, dog star, Sirius, canicula, Aldebaran, constellation, galaxy, zodiacal light, anthelion, day star, morning star, Lucifer, mock sun, parhelion, phosphor, phosphorus, sun dog, Venus, aurora, polar lights, northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, aurora australis, lightning, chain lightning, fork lightning, sheet lightning, summer lightning, ball lightning, kugelblitz, phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, scintillator, phosphor, firefly luminescence, ignis fatuus, Jack o'lantern, Friar's lantern, will-o'-the- wisp, firedrake, Fata Morgana, Saint Elmo's fire, glowworm, firefly, June bug, lightning bug, anglerfish, gas, gas light, lime light, lantern, lanthorn, dark lantern, bull's-eye, candle, bougie, taper, rushlight, oil, wick, burner, Argand, moderator, duplex, torch, flambeau, link, brand, gaselier, chandelier, electrolier, candelabrum, candelabra, girandole, sconce, luster, candlestick, lamp, light, incandescent lamp, tungsten bulb, light bulb, flashlight, torch, arc light, laser, maser neon bulb, neon sign, fluorescent lamp, filament, socket, contacts, filler gas, firework, fizgig, pyrotechnics, rocket, lighthouse, self-luminous, glowing, phosphoric, phosphorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, radiant, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels, the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, the planets in their station list'ning stood, the Scriptures of the skies, that orbed continent, the fire that severs day from night.