chimaera

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chi·​mae·​ra kī-ˈmir-ə How to pronounce chimaera (audio)
kə-

chiefly British spelling of chimera

chimaera

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noun

: any of a family (Chimaeridae) of marine cartilaginous fishes with a tapering or threadlike tail and usually no anal fin

Examples of chimaera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Some evidence suggests that certain chimaera species might disappear before researchers can unravel their many mysteries. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024 See it Only one immature Andaman shortnose chimaera was found, and the male measured 20 inches in length, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Kerby also encountered chimaeras, or ghost sharks, primitive cartilaginous fish with big heads, pointy snouts, fins like airplane wings, long trailing tails and shiny silver-dollar eyes. Susan Casey, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023 Fish with cartilage, part of the chondrichthyan group, include sharks, skates, rays and chimaera. CBS News, 20 Oct. 2022 Critical missing details about the species' life cycle makes monitoring chimaera populations difficult, the New York Times reports. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2022 The exhibit will also introduce ones that might not be as commonly known to the general public, including the torpedo ray and the longnose chimaera. Michele Herrmann, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 Rays are the most threatened, with 41 percent of 611 species studied being at risk; 36 percent of 536 sharks species are at risk; and 9 percent of 52 chimaera species. Karen McVeigh, Wired, 11 Sep. 2021 These organoids can be either chimaera of human or animal cells or slices of human brain tissue. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chimaera.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, chimera

First Known Use

Noun

1804, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chimaera was in 1804

Dictionary Entries Near chimaera

Cite this Entry

“Chimaera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimaera. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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