ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rare

adj.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɹɛɹ// UK //ɹˈeə// rare Archaic General-service Slang

adj. not happening very often, or something that is hard to find. It also describes meat that is cooked for a short time so it stays red inside.

adj. occurring infrequently or in low density; not commonly encountered. In a culinary context, it refers to meat cooked briefly to retain a red, moist interior.


SIMPLE

It is rare to see snow in this part of the country.

CONTEXTUAL

The collector spent years searching for a rare stamp to complete his set from the nineteenth century.

COMPLEX

While the species was once abundant across the plains, it has become increasingly rare due to habitat fragmentation and the encroachment of urban development.

Synonyms
Usage

Gradable adjective; can be used with 'very' or 'extremely'.

Pitfall

a rare meatrare meatWhen describing how meat is cooked, the word is used as a predicative adjective or a modifier for an uncountable noun; 'a rare' usually implies a rare object or event.

Idioms1 entry

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