chimère

/ʃimɛʁ/

la noun B2

le (masc.) la (fem.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

N Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral
Word fingerprint: Register: neutral. Era: current. Frequency: common. Domain: general. Connotation: neutral.

Forms

plural
chimères

Meaning

  1. chimera, a mythical creature made of parts from different animals; also, figuratively, an impossible dream

N Category Thing Concreteness Concrete Animacy Inanimate Countability Countable Scope Individual
Meaning fingerprint: Category: thing. Concreteness: concrete. Animacy: inanimate. Countability: countable. Scope: individual.

Usage notes

A mythical hybrid creature, lion, goat and serpent combined in the original Greek myth; also used figuratively for an unrealistic hope, "poursuivre une chimère" is to chase an impossible dream.

Practice

1 What does chimère mean?

2 Fill the gap: Le lion ailé était une ___ redoutée dans les légendes.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches chimère?

noun

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