rare

UK: reə(r) | US: rer

Definition

  1. adj. not occurring very often; uncommon

  2. adj. (of meat) cooked lightly so that the inside is still red

  3. adj. unusually good or remarkable

Structure
rare <thin, sparse>
Etymology

The word "rare" traces back to Latin rarus, meaning "thinly spaced, scattered, or infrequent." This sense of sparseness evolved into the modern meanings of "uncommon" or "exceptional." The culinary sense ("lightly cooked") emerged in the late 18th century, likely from the idea of meat being "lightly" or "thinly" cooked. Over time, "rare" also acquired connotations of excellence (e.g., "a rare talent"), emphasizing scarcity as a marker of value.

Examples

  1. Snow is rare in this tropical region.

  2. He prefers his steak rare, with a cool red center.

  3. Her ability to solve complex problems so quickly is rare.

  4. The museum displayed a rare collection of medieval artifacts.

  5. It’s rare to find such honesty in politics.