chimera

IPA/kaɪˈmɪərə/
KK[tʃɪmˈɛrə]IPA/kaɪˈmɪrə/

chimera — noun

  • chimerasingular
  • chimerasplural

1. a fire-breathing beast from Greek legend, formed with the head of a lion, the bo

1.nounC1
Definition

a fire-breathing beast from Greek legend, formed with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a snake

Example

At the museum, Emily pointed to a chimera breathing fire.

chimera as the myth creature

Valentina read about a hero who fought a chimera near the sea.

Common collocations
  • fire-breathing chimera
  • mythical chimera
  • fight a chimera
Synonyms
  • monster

    a broad word for a frightening imaginary creature, without the chimera's fixed shape

  • beast

    a more general literary word that can describe any fierce creature

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital letter when it refers to the specific beast from Greek myth. In broader figurative uses, the word is normally lower-case.

2. a living thing, organ, or tissue that contains cells from more than one genetic

2.nounC2
Definition

a living thing, organ, or tissue that contains cells from more than one genetic source, sometimes from different species

Example

The lab mouse was a chimera made from cells of two embryos.

lab-created chimera from two embryos

Tests showed that Feng was a blood chimera after the transplant.

Common collocations
  • mouse chimera
  • create a chimera
  • blood chimera

Grammar Patterns

create a chimera

chimera + from + cells

human-animal chimera

Usage Note

In biology, a chimera is identified by mixed cell lines inside one body. Distinguish it from hybrid, which refers to offspring produced by parents from different groups.

Common Mistakes

The mule is a chimera of a horse and a donkey.
The mule is a hybrid of a horse and a donkey.
A hybrid comes from breeding, while a chimera contains different cell populations in one organism.

3. something formed by joining parts, styles, or ideas that do not naturally fit to

3.nounC1
Definition

something formed by joining parts, styles, or ideas that do not naturally fit together

Example

Critics called the new district a chimera of mall, museum, and theme park.

a chimera of + unlike parts

After three rewrites, the draft law became a chimera of competing ideas.

Common collocations
  • a chimera of ideas
  • political chimera
  • institutional chimera
Synonyms
  • hybrid

    more neutral, often for a successful combination rather than a clashing one

  • patchwork

    emphasizes many pieces put together, especially if the result feels uneven

Grammar Patterns

a chimera of + plural noun

become a chimera

Usage Note

Often used in formal criticism for a plan, object, or work that combines elements which seem to clash, not for an ordinary mixture of compatible parts.

Common Mistakes

The lunch bowl was a chimera of rice and vegetables.
The lunch bowl was a mixture of rice and vegetables.
chimera suggests an odd or uneasy combination, not a normal mix.

4. a pleasing plan or hope that people imagine even though it is almost certain not

4.nounC1
Definition

a pleasing plan or hope that people imagine even though it is almost certain not to happen

Example

For years, the inventor chased a chimera of free electricity for every home.

chase a chimera = pursue impossible hope

Noor warned that a perfectly fair tax system may remain a chimera.

Common collocations
  • mere chimera
  • chase a chimera
  • remain a chimera
Synonyms
  • pipe dream

    close in meaning, but much more informal

  • illusion

    stresses mistaken belief as well as desire

  • fantasy

    often suggests enjoyable imagination rather than a serious goal

Grammar Patterns

chase a chimera

remain a chimera

Usage Note

Usually appears in formal or reflective writing about politics, science, or ambition. It suggests a goal that attracts people but stays out of reach.

Common Mistakes

Her dream of visiting Tainan is a chimera.
Her dream of visiting Tainan is a dream.
chimera is used for hopes that are unrealistic or impossible, not ordinary plans.

Word family

  • chimeric
    adjectiveC2
  • chimerical
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/4

For noun/4, chimera is more literary than dream and already suggests that the goal will probably never be reached. A dream can be practical or personal, while a chimera usually sounds remote or self-deceiving. Fantasy points more to imagination for pleasure than to a plan someone is seriously trying to achieve. Illusion stresses false belief: the person is not only hoping, but also seeing reality wrongly. Pipe dream is the nearest everyday synonym, but it is much more informal. You might call universal free energy a chimera, but a student's wish to study abroad is still just a dream.

dream ↗fantasy ↗illusion ↗pipe dream ↗

Etymology

Ancient GreekLatinEnglish

English chimera came through Latin from the Greek name Khimaira, a word linked to a she-goat and later used for the fire-breathing monster of myth. Because that creature itself was imagined as a body made from different animals, the word later widened to mean any mixed form, and then any beautiful but impossible idea.