chimera

or chi·mae·ra

[ kahy-meer-uh ]

noun

, plural chi·me·ras.

1. Often Chimera. Greek Mythology. a fire-breathing monster, commonly represented with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
2. any grotesque monster having disparate parts, as depicted or described in art, legend, fantasy fiction, video games, etc.
3. a strange, horrible, or impossible idea or figment of the imagination:

   He is far different from the chimera your fears have made of him.

   Without equality, unity is a chimera.

   Synonyms: delusion, fantasy, dream

4. anything created by taking parts or aspects of different kinds of things and combining them:

   We are like an audio-art chimera, in that we act as part literary journal, part music showcase, and part storytelling podcast.

5. Genetics. an organism composed of two or more genetically distinct tissues, such as one produced artificially by combining cells or tissues from different species:

   Chimeras were generated by splicing West Nile and Zika viruses into the genetic backbone of two different insect-specific viruses.

adjective

1. being or relating to a chimera or chimeras:

   The chimera embryos used in this research are sheep embryos containing human cells.

chimera

/ kɪ-; kaɪˈmɪərə /

noun

1. often capital Greek myth a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent
2. a fabulous beast made up of parts taken from various animals
3. a wild and unrealistic dream or notion
4. biology an organism, esp a cultivated plant, consisting of at least two genetically different kinds of tissue as a result of mutation, grafting, etc

chimera

1. A monster in classical mythology who had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon or serpent.

Notes

Figuratively, a “chimera” is a creation of the imagination, especially a wild creation.

Other Words From

• chi·mer·ic chi·maer·ic adjective
• chi·mer·ism chi·maer·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chimera¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English chimera, from Latin chimaera, from Greek chímaira “she-goat,” from chímaros “he-goat,” perhaps originally “animal one winter old”; akin to Old Norse gymbr, English gimmer “ewe-lamb one year (i.e., one winter) old,” Latin hiems “winter” ( hiemal ), Greek cheîma “winter cold” ( isocheim )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chimera¹

C16: from Latin chimaera, from Greek khimaira she-goat, from khimaros he-goat

Example Sentences

Over 50 minutes at the ornate House With Chimeras in the presidential offices, he spoke with a mix of frustration and bewilderment at the West’s reluctance to take bolder steps to ensure that Ukraine prevails.

From New York Times

Mournful yet exuberant, “La Chimera” is a towering work of art presented with the unassuming invitation of a warming summer morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, the director describes “La Chimera,” in which Arthur seems to be seeking something more than buried treasure as he mourns the death of his lover, as about “the beyond.”

From Los Angeles Times

Like the yellow brick road, the bright red thread in “La Chimera” winds through a world that is both dreamy and touched by magic.

From New York Times

It’s been building for a few years, with more people openly talking about when they first watched the Chimera Ant arc in “Hunter X Hunter” or whole heartedly recommending “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”

From Salon