Definition of "chimera" [chime•ra]

• An organism, organ, or part consisting of two or more tissues of different genetic composition, produced as a result of organ transplant, grafting, or genetic engineering. (noun)
• A substance, such as an antibody, created from the proteins or genes or two different species. (noun)
• An individual who has received a transplant of genetically and immunologically different tissue. (noun)
• A fanciful mental illusion or fabrication. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Infallibility; Protestants devoting themselves to the dismal task of paring down the dimensions of this miracle, and reducing the credibility of that one -- as if any appreciable relief from the burden of faith could be so obtained; sentimental sceptics, who, after labouring to demolish what they call the chimera of superstition, fall to weeping as they remember they have now no lies to teach their children; democrats who are frightened at the rough voice of the people, and aristocrats flirting with democracy."
• "Where the chimera is viewed as strong, this may in turn act as a pressure for evasive dewarping as writers mine highly conjectural theory for original ideas."
• "February 24th, 2009 at 11: 48 pm technically, according to greek mythology, a chimera is not a human-animal hybrid, but a multi-species hybrid. a centaur would be a better choice to make your point. (/obnoxious pedantry)"