chimera Definition
- 1a fire-breathing female monster from Greek mythology with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail
- 2a thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve
- 3an organism containing a mixture of genetically different tissues, formed by processes such as fusion of early embryos, grafting, or mutation
Using chimera: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "chimera" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The chimera was a popular subject in ancient Greek art.
Example
His dream of becoming a millionaire overnight was nothing but a chimera.
Example
The geneticist created a chimera by fusing two different embryos.
chimera Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with chimera
chimera-like
resembling or having characteristics of a chimera
Example
The creature in the painting was chimera-like, with the head of a dragon and the body of a lion.
Example
Scientists are researching the possibility of creating chimera organs for human transplantation.
a rare genetic disorder characterized by the presence of two or more genetically distinct cell lines in an individual
Example
Chimera syndrome can result in unusual physical traits and can complicate medical diagnoses.
Origins of chimera
from Greek 'khimaira', meaning 'she-goat'
Summary: chimera in Brief
The term 'chimera' [kɪˈmɪərə] has three main meanings. First, it refers to a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. Second, it denotes something that is hoped for but impossible to achieve, such as 'His dream of becoming a millionaire overnight was nothing but a chimera.' Third, it describes an organism made up of genetically different tissues, created through processes like embryo fusion or grafting. 'Chimera' extends into phrases like 'chimera-like,' describing things that resemble chimeras, and 'chimera organ,' referring to organs composed of cells from different organisms.
