rare

6 definitions • 13 examples

not common or frequent; very unusual:

a rare disease/species

The museum is full of rare and precious treasures.

a rare occasion/opportunity/visit/treat, etc.

[ + to infinitive ] It's very rare to find these birds in New England in winter.

It's very rare to find someone who combines such qualities.

someone or something unusual:

He's that rare beast: a rapper who can sing.

A hole in one is a rare beast that few professional golfers achieve even once in their career.

(of meat) not cooked for very long and still red:

I'd like my steak rare, please.

used to describe the air at the top of a mountain, which contains less oxygen, making it harder to breathe

not common and therefore sometimes valuable:

rare species of birds

Success like that is extremely rare.

She’s usually positive, but on rare occasions disappointment shows through.

With rare exceptions, the families in this town have lived here for generations.

(esp. of meat) not cooked for very long and still red inside:

rare steak