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chimaera

 - 10 dictionary results

chi⋅mae⋅ra

  [ki-meer-uh, kahy-]
Use chimaera in a Sentence
–noun
1. any fish of the family Chimaeridae, the male of which has a spiny clasping organ over the mouth.
2. any similar fish of the group Holocephali, which includes this family.
3. chimera.
Origin:
1795–1805; see chimera

chi⋅me⋅ra

  [ki-meer-uh, kahy-]
–noun, plural -ras.
1. (often initial capital letter) a mythological, fire-breathing monster, commonly represented with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
2. any similarly grotesque monster having disparate parts, esp. as depicted in decorative art.
3. a horrible or unreal creature of the imagination; a vain or idle fancy: He is far different from the chimera your fears have made of him.
4. Genetics. an organism composed of two or more genetically distinct tissues, as an organism that is partly male and partly female, or an artificially produced individual having tissues of several species.
Also, chimaera.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME chimera < L chimaera < Gk chímaira she-goat; akin to ON gymbr, E gimmer ewe-lamb one year (i.e., one winter) old, L hiems winter (see hiemal ), Gk cheimn winter

Synonyms:
3. dream, fantasy, delusion.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To chimaera
chi·mae·ra   (kī-mîr'ə, kĭ-)   
n.  

  1. A deep-sea cartilaginous fish of the family Chimaeridae, having a smooth-skinned tapering body and a whiplike tail.

  2. Genetics Variant of chimera.


[New Latin Chimaera, type genus, from Latin chimaera, chimera; see chimera.]
Chi·mae·ra   (kī-mîr'ə, kĭ-)   
n.   Greek Mythology
Variant of Chimera.
chi·me·ra also chi·mae·ra   (kī-mîr'ə, kĭ-)   
n.  

    1. An organism, organ, or part consisting of two or more tissues of different genetic composition, produced as a result of organ transplant, grafting, or genetic engineering.

    2. A substance, such as an antibody, created from the proteins or genes of two different species.

  2. An individual who has received a transplant of genetically and immunologically different tissue.

  3. A fanciful mental illusion or fabrication.


[Middle English chimere, Chimera, from Old French, from Latin chimaera, from Greek khimaira, chimera, she-goat; see ghei- in Indo-European roots.]
Chi·me·ra also Chi·mae·ra   (kī-mîr'ə, kĭ-)   
n.  

  1. Greek Mythology A fire-breathing she-monster usually represented as a composite of a lion, goat, and serpent.

  2. An imaginary monster made up of grotesquely disparate parts.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

chimera [(keye-meer-uh, ki-meer-uh)]

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.

Note: Figuratively, a “chimera” is a creation of the imagination, especially a wild creation.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

chimera 
1382, from L. Chimaera, from Gk. chimaira, a fabulous monster (with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail), supposedly personification of snow or winter, orig. "year-old she-goat," from cheima "winter season." Meaning "wild fantasy" first recorded 1587.
"Beestis clepid chymeres, that han a part of ech beest, and suche ben not, no but oonly in opynyoun." [Wyclif, "Prologue"]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: chi·me·ra
Variant: or chi·mae·ra /kI-'mir-&, k&-/
Function: noun
: an individual, organ, orpart consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution
Chimera, Greek mythological character. The Chimera was a fire-breathing she-monster made up of the front parts of a lion, themiddle parts of a goat, and the tail of a snake.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

chimera chi·me·ra (kī-mēr'ə, kĭ-)
n.

  1. One who has received a transplant of genetically and immunologically different tissue.

  2. Twins with two immunologically different types of red blood cells.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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