side chain

See also: sidechain

English

Alternative forms

• sidechain, side-chain

Noun

side chain (plural side chains)

1. (organic chemistry) That part of a molecule attached to some core structure; a radical.
2. (biochemistry) Any of the variable parts of amino acids that extend from the peptide backbone in proteins; they are referred to as R-groups, which branch off the backbone at the alpha carbon (Cα).
3. (audio) Auxiliary audio input fed to a synthesizer etc. and used to selectively trigger an effect.
4. (cryptocurrencies) A separate blockchain attached to a parent blockchain (mainchain) to extend its functionalities.

   Synonym: childchain

   • 2015, Nathaniel Popper, “Epilogue”, in Digital Gold, 1st edition, New York: Harper, →ISBN, →OCLC:

     The Blockstream developers, meanwhile, were accused of working for the interests of their company, Blockstream, rather than the good of Bitcoin as a whole. Their company, after all, proposed breaking many smaller transactions off onto so called sidechains that would occasionally link back up with the main Bitcoin blockchain, […]

   • 2021, H. Kent Baker, Ehsan Nikbakht, Sean Stein Smith, The Emerald Handbook of Blockchain for Business, Emerald Group Publishing, →ISBN, page 179:

     A sidechain does not have a native token but rather creates a two-way peg or a 1:1 peg between bitcoin (tokens) and the “pegged bitcoin” on the sidechain.

5. (rail transport) On some railways, a chain fitted on both sides of a centre coupler or buffer at each end of a rail vehicle, which has a hook for connection to a corresponding chain on the next vehicle in a train.
   • 1946 May and June, “The Why and The Wherefore: Miscellanea”, in Railway Magazine, pages 197–198:

     When the screw coupling replaced the old chain couplings on passenger stock, the latter were retained and still coupled up to prevent severance of a train in the event of a screw coupling breaking. The contingency is so remote, however, that the side chains have been abolished.

Verb

side chain (third-person singular simple present side chains, present participle side chaining, simple past and past participle side chained)

1. (audio) To use auxiliary audio input in that manner.