rare

¹

[rair]

adjective

rarer, rarest 

1. coming or occurring far apart in time; unusual; uncommon: His visits are rare occasions.

   a rare disease;

   His visits are rare occasions.

   Synonyms: singular, extraordinary, exceptional
   Antonyms: common

2. thinly distributed over an area; few and widely separated.

   Lighthouses are rare on that part of the coast.

   Synonyms: infrequent, infrequent, sparse
   Antonyms: frequent

3. having the component parts not closely compacted together; not dense: lightheaded from the rare mountain air.

   rare gases;

   lightheaded from the rare mountain air.

4. unusually great.

   a rare display of courage.

5. unusually excellent; admirable; fine.

   She showed rare tact in inviting them.

   Synonyms: inimitable, incomparable, choice
   Antonyms: inferior

rare

²

[rair]

adjective

rarer, rarest 

1. (of meat) cooked just slightly.

   He likes his steak rare.

rare

³

[rair]

verb (used without object)

Older Use.

rared, raring 

1. rear.

rare

¹

/ rɛə /

adjective

1. not widely known; not frequently used or experienced; uncommon or unusual

   a rare word

2. occurring seldom

   a rare appearance

3. not widely distributed; not generally occurring

   a rare herb

4. (of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin; rarefied

5. uncommonly great; extreme

   kind to a rare degree

6. exhibiting uncommon excellence; superlatively good or fine

   rare skill

7. highly valued because of its uncommonness

   a rare prize

rare

²

/ rɛə /

adjective

1. (of meat, esp beef) very lightly cooked

Other Word Forms

• rareness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rare¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rar(e), rer(e) “light, airy, loose,” from Latin rārus “loose, porous, wide apart, thin, infrequent”

Origin of rare²

First recorded in 1610–20; variant of earlier rear, Middle English rere, hrere, Old English hrēr “(of eggs) lightly boiled”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rare¹

C14: from Latin rārus sparse

Origin of rare²

Old English hrēr ; perhaps related to hreaw _raw

Example Sentences

But lawyers say charges of mortgage fraud are extremely rare if the borrower makes the required regular payments on the loan.

From Los Angeles Times

The virus can attack the nervous system and lead to meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis and, in rare cases, even death.

From Los Angeles Times

Given the nature of T20 international cricket, regular opening partnerships are relatively rare.

From BBC

The culprit was Naegleria fowleri - commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba - an infection usually contracted through the nose in freshwater and so rare that most doctors never encounter a case in their entire careers.

From BBC

The rare gold band, adorned with spherical lapis lazuli beads, dates back to the reign of King Amenemope, a pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 21st Dynasty who ruled from 993 to 984BC.

From BBC

Related Words

• extraordinary 
• limited 
• occasional 
• scarce 
• singular 
• strange 
• subtle 
• uncommon 
• unique 
• unlikely 
• unthinkable 
• unusual