VocabDictionary

chimeras

/kaɪˈmɪərəz/advanced Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

A thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve.

Example Sentences:
  • The peace treaty proved to be one of the many political chimeras of the decade.
  • He chased the chimeras of fame and fortune, only to find himself empty-handed.
2.noun

An organism, organ, or part consisting of two or more different tissues of different genetic composition.

Example Sentences:
  • Geneticists created chimeras in the lab to study how different cell lines interact during development.
  • The plant was a chimera, displaying both red and white flowers on the same branch.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “chimeras”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'Chimaira', a fire-breathing monster in Greek mythology composed of parts from a lion, a goat, and a serpent. The term evolved in English to describe any grotesque product of the imagination or, in modern biology, an organism containing tissues of two or more genetically distinct sets of DNA.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of a 'shy mare' (chimera) that is actually a weird mix of different animals hiding in the barn.

Rhyming Words

Frequently Asked Questions About “chimeras

1. What is the meaning of “chimeras” in English?

In English, chimeras (noun) is defined as: “A thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve.”.

2. How do you use “chimeras” in a sentence?

The peace treaty proved to be one of the many political chimeras of the decade.

3. What are English synonyms of “chimeras”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “chimeras”?

Derived from the Greek 'Chimaira', a fire-breathing monster in Greek mythology composed of parts from a lion, a goat, and a serpent. The term evolved in English to describe any grotesque product of the imagination or, in modern biology, an organism containing tissues of two or more genetically distinct sets of DNA.