is the rosary a prayer or a chain of beads?
Does it matter?
It is an object they use to be closer to God.
Some may say it is similar to what many do with the Cross, and that would be a good example.
However, I never heard of anyone saying they needed a trinket shaped like a cross to get closer to God. If they do, I would say they are as wrong as those who need the rosary to get closer to Him.
Unless of course you claim to being attacked by a vampire, but that would be for another thread.