rare

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /rɛə/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

Positive rare

Comparative rarer

Superlative rarest

1. If something is rare, you seldom see it or there are only a few.

   It's rare to have snow in June.

   The vory-billed woodpecker is a very rare bird, and has only been seen by a few people.

2. (cooking) If a meat is cooked rare, it is cooked very lightly so that the meat is still red when it is done.

Synonyms

• unusual

Related words

• rarity
• rarely
• rareness
• rare earth
• rarebit
• rare spring-sedge