chimera

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /kʌɪˈmɪərə/ or /kɪ-/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /kaɪˈmirə/ or /kaɪˈmɛrə/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: chi‧me‧ra

Noun

Singular chimera

Plural chimeras

The chimera.

1. (countable) (mythology) A fabulous creature with parts from different animals. Can be spelt chimera or chimaera.

   A griffin is a chimaera with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.

2. (countable) (genetics) a chimera is an organism with genetically different cells, for example, cells from two different zygotes.
3. (countable) (genetics) DNA or DNA products which have been put together from different genes or different organisms.
4. (countable) (zoology) Chimaera, a cartilaginous marine fish in the order Chimaeriformes, with a blunt snout, long tail, and a spine before the first dorsal fin.

   The Axolotl is a chimera because its body has both larval and adult tissues.