rare

Everyday

1. Rare means not happening often or not found often; there are only a few of it. tree →
2. Rare (about meat, especially steak) means cooked only a little, so it is still red inside. tree →
3. In old or informal speech, rare can mean very or extremely. tree →

In the lessons

In science, a rare animal or plant has very few left in the world and may be endangered, like the kakapo or Sumatran tiger. In maths and probability, a rare event is unlikely, with a small chance. In everyday life, rare coins, stamps or cards are valuable because there are few. In cooking, beef steak can be rare, medium or well done (but chicken and burgers must be cooked through for safety). Phrases: «rare animal», «a rare chance», «in rare cases», «rare earth», «rare steak».

Examples

• Snow is rare in Sydney. tree →
• The giant panda is a rare animal. tree →
• This rare stamp is worth a lot of money. tree →
• It's rare for our teacher to be late. tree →
• In rare cases, a bee sting can be dangerous. tree →
• He likes his steak rare. tree →
• Getting six sixes in a row is very rare. tree →
• A shooting star is a rare and lucky sight. tree →
• “That'll be rare nasty,” says the cook. tree →

Note

Comparative rarer, superlative rarest; adverb rarely (not often). Opposite: common. In probability, rare = unlikely (close to 0), not impossible. Do not eat chicken or minced meat rare; it must be cooked all the way through.

In Jewish tradition

In Isaiah, God says He will make people so few that they are rarer than the finest gold of Ophir. This is a picture of the great loss of life on the day of the LORD.

Interpretation. The prophet's words are read as a warning of judgment on proud nations, in which very few people are left.

Examples

• I will make man more rare than fine gold, even man than the pure gold of Ophir. (Prophets ISA.13.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparative rarer, superlative rarest; adverb rarely (not often). Opposite: common. In probability, rare = unlikely (close to 0), not impossible. Do not eat chicken or minced meat rare; it must be cooked all the way through.