chimera

US /kaɪˈmer.ə, kaɪˈmɪr.ə/
UK /kaɪˈmer.ə, kaɪˈmɪr.ə/
"chimera" picture
1.

a mythical, fire-breathing monster, commonly represented as a combination of a lion, goat, and serpent

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The ancient Greek myth tells of a hero who defeated the fearsome chimera.
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The artist sculpted a grotesque chimera with multiple animal features.
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monstermythical beasthybrid creature
2.

a thing that is hoped or wished for but is in fact illusory or impossible to achieve

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World peace often seems like a beautiful chimera.
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His dream of becoming a rock star turned out to be a mere chimera.
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illusionfantasydelusionpipe dreamutopia
3.

an individual organism, organ, or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution

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Scientists created a genetic chimera by combining cells from two different species.
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The plant was a chimera, with leaves from one variety and flowers from another.
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mosaichybridgraft