chimera

noun chi·me·ra \kī-ˈmir-ə, kə-\

Chimera : a monster from Greek mythology that breathes fire and has a lion's head, a goat's body, and a snake's tail

: something that exists only in the imagination and is not possible in reality

Full Definition of CHIMERA

a capitalized : a fire-breathing she-monster in Greek mythology having a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail

b : an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts

: an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially : an unrealizable dream <a fancy, a chimera in my brain, troubles me in my prayer — John Donne>

: an individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution

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Origin of CHIMERA

Latin chimaera, from Greek chimaira she-goat, chimera; akin to Old Norse gymbr yearling ewe, Greek cheimōn winter — more at hibernate

Related to CHIMERA

Synonyms: fantasy, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision

Other Genetics Terms

hermaphrodite, plasticity

Rhymes with CHIMERA

chimaera, hetaera, lempira, mbira

Medical Dictionary

chimera

noun chi·me·ra

Medical Definition of CHIMERA

: an individual, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution

Biographical Note for CHIMERA

Chimera, Greek mythological character. The Chimera was a fire-breathing she-monster made up of the front parts of a lion, the middle parts of a goat, and the tail of a snake.