chimera

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Derived terms 1.4.3 Translations 1.5 See also

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Alternative spellings

• chimaera

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek χίμαιρα. The fabulous monster in Lycea (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 χεῖμα (kheima), “‘winter season’”). Meaning "wild fantasy" first recorded 1587.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /kaɪˈmɛɹə/

[edit] Noun

chimera (plural chimeras)

1. (mythology) Chimera, or any fabulous creature with parts from different animals.
2. A vain, foolish, or incongruous fancy, or creature of the imagination; as, the chimera of an author.
3. (genetics) An organism with genetically distinct cells originating from two zygotes.
4. (architecture) A gargoyle that does not work as a waterspout.
5. (usually chimaera) A cartilaginous marine fish in the subclass Holocephali and especially the order Chimaeriformes, with a blunt snout, long tail, and a spine before the first dorsal fin.

[edit] Synonyms

• (fish): ghost shark, ratfish, rabbitfish

[edit] Derived terms

• chimeric
• chimerism
• tetragametic chimera
• Chimera: the name of one of the ships of Æneas

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• Chimaera
• Appendix:Architectural glossary