chimera

• Nom désignant une créature mythologique, souvent représentée comme un hybride de plusieurs animaux, ou quelque chose que l'on espère ou désire mais qui est illusoire ou impossible à atteindre.

A noun referring to a mythical creature, often depicted as a hybrid of different animals, or a thing that is hoped or wished for but is illusory or impossible to achieve.

1. Mythological creatureC1formal

   A fire-breathing female monster from Greek mythology with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.

   Chimère (créature mythologique)

   • In Greek myths, the chimera terrorized the region of Lycia.
   • Bellerophon was tasked with slaying the chimera.
   • The chimera is often depicted as a hybrid beast.

2. Impossible or unrealistic ideaC2formal

   A thing that is hoped or wished for but is impossible or very unlikely to achieve.

   chimère

   • His dream of becoming a billionaire overnight was a chimera.
   • The peace treaty proved to be a chimera as conflict resumed.
   • Many consider the perfect society a chimera.

   Synonymescastle in the airdaydreamdelusiondreamfancyfantasyfigmentillusionmiragepipe dream

   Antonymesactualitycertaintyfactreality

3. Genetic organismC2formalscientific

   An organism containing cells from two or more different zygotes, often used in genetic research.

   Chimère génétique

   • The lab created a chimera by combining cells from two embryos.
   • Chimeras are used to study developmental biology.
   • The sheep was a chimera with both sheep and goat cells.