chimera
chimera — noun
- chimerasingular
- chimerasplural
1. a fire-breathing beast from Greek legend, formed with the head of a lion, the bo
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
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.
The game artist painted a chimera with horns, claws, and bright wings.
A stone chimera stood above the gate in the old storybook.
用法筆記
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
a living thing, organ, or tissue that contains cells from more than one genetic source, sometimes from different species
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.
Researchers created a pig-human chimera to study early organ growth.
Kofi explained that a chimera differs from a simple hybrid animal.
文法句型
create a chimera
chimera + from + cells
human-animal chimera
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
3. something formed by joining parts, styles, or ideas that do not naturally fit to
something formed by joining parts, styles, or ideas that do not naturally fit together
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.
Rodrigo described the album as a chimera of jazz, rap, and opera.
The device looked like a chimera built from old bike and phone parts.
文法句型
a chimera of + plural noun
become a chimera
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
4. a pleasing plan or hope that people imagine even though it is almost certain not
a pleasing plan or hope that people imagine even though it is almost certain not to happen
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.
To the tired workers, a four-day week still felt like a chimera.
Christopher admitted that instant fame without effort was a chimera.
- 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
文法句型
chase a chimera
remain a chimera
用法筆記
Usually appears in formal or reflective writing about politics, science, or ambition. It suggests a goal that attracts people but stays out of reach.