rare S3 W2 /reə $ rer/ BrE AmE adjective ( comparative rarer , superlative rarest )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rarity ; adverb : ↑ rarely ; adjective : ↑ rare ]
[ Sense 1,3: Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: rarus ]
[ Sense 2: Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: rear 'lightly cooked' (15-19 centuries) , from Old English hrer ]
1 . not seen or found very often, or not happening very often OPP common ⇨ unusual :
This species of plant is becoming increasingly rare.
I only saw Helen on the rare occasions when I went into her shop.
it is rare (for somebody/something) to do something
It is rare to find such an interesting group of people.
It is very rare for her to miss a day at school.
2 . meat that is rare has only been cooked for a short time and is still red ⇨ underdone , well-done :
I like my steak rare.
3 . [only before noun] British English old-fashioned very good or surprising:
We had a rare old time at the party.
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THESAURUS
▪ rare not existing in large numbers or in large amounts:
The law prevents the export of rare birds.
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The plates are quite rare. Only about a hundred were made.
▪ scarce not available in large enough numbers or amounts at a particular time – used especially about things people need:
After the war, food and clothing were scarce.
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People are having to compete for scarce resources.
▪ not common [not before noun] fairly rare:
Silver coins of this period are not common, and could be very valuable.
▪ infrequent formal not happening often:
As time went on, her visits became more and more infrequent.
▪ be few and far between to not be common – especially much less common than you might expect:
Luckily, accidents such as these are few and far between.
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Bargains are, unfortunately, few and far between.
▪ be (something of) a rarity if something or someone is a rarity, it is surprising to find one, because very few exist:
Women are still something of a rarity in senior management positions.
▪ be like hen’s teeth informal to be extremely rare:
Good Greek restaurants are like hen’s teeth around here.