chimaera: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Literary / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “chimaera” mean?
A mythical fire-breathing monster composed of parts from different animals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mythical fire-breathing monster composed of parts from different animals.
An unrealistic or impossible idea or hope; in biology, an organism containing a mixture of genetically different tissues.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK spelling strongly favours 'chimaera' (following British conventions for words from Greek via Latin). US spelling strongly favours 'chimera'. Both forms are understood in both regions.
Connotations
Identical in connotation.
Frequency
The word is rare in everyday language in both regions. The UK spelling is more consistently used in academic/biological contexts; the US spelling dominates in general media.
Grammar
How to Use “chimaera” in a Sentence
to chase/pursue a chimaerathe chimaera of [abstract noun, e.g., perfection]a chimaera consisting of [components]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chimaera” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The project had a chimaeric quality.
American English
- The research involved chimeric antibodies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe an unrealistic business plan or goal. 'Their projected profits were a financial chimaera.'
Academic
Common in literary criticism (mythology), philosophy (unreal ideas), and genetics (organism with mixed cell lines).
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used for dramatic effect to describe a hopeless plan.
Technical
Standard term in developmental biology and genetics for an organism with cells from different zygotes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chimaera”
- Misspelling: 'chimera' vs. 'chimaera'. Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈtʃɪmərə/) is incorrect.
- Using it as a synonym for any 'dream' without the connotation of impossibility.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are spelling variants of the same word. 'Chimaera' is the standard British English spelling, while 'chimera' is standard in American English. The 'ae' digraph is often simplified to 'e' in US spelling.
In mythology, yes, it is a specific hybrid monster. In biology, no. A hybrid results from a cross between two species, while a genetic chimaera is a single organism composed of cells from different zygotes (e.g., two fertilised eggs that fused).
Rarely. Its core meaning involves monstrous impossibility. Even in biology, it is a descriptive, neutral term for a phenomenon, not a positive evaluation.
The standard British pronunciation is /kʌɪˈmɪərə/ (kye-MEER-uh), with the stress on the second syllable and a long 'i' sound (/aɪ/) at the start.
A mythical fire-breathing monster composed of parts from different animals.
Chimaera is usually formal / literary / scientific in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chase a chimaera”
- “a chimaera in the brain (archaic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CHImpanzee + panthERA' -> a mix of animals, like the mythical beast.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN IMPOSSIBLE IDEA IS A MONSTROUS HYBRID.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'chimaera' a standard technical term?