ETYM Latin chimaera a chimera, Greek chimera, chimera, he-goat; cf. Icel. qymbr a yearling ewe.
In biology, an organism composed of tissues that are genetically different. Chimeras can develop naturally if a mutation occurs in a cell of a developing embryo, but are more commonly produced artificially by implanting cells from one organism into the embryo of another.
A grotesque product of the imagination; SYN. chimaera.
1. Animal fabuleux.
2. (Au figuré) Illusion.
3. (Génétique) Organisme ŕ cellules de provenances différentes.
1. Mirage. Illusion d'optique.
2. Rêve.
3. Erreur. Vivre d'illusions.
(Greek mythology) Fire-breathing she-monster with a lion's head and a goat's body and a serpent's tail; daughter of Typhon; Also called: Chimaera.