English adjective: rare | |||
1. | rare not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness | ||
Samples | A rare word. Rare books. | ||
Similar | uncommon | ||
Antonyms | common | ||
2. | rare recurring only at long intervals | ||
Samples | A rare appearance. Total eclipses are rare events. | ||
Similar | infrequent | ||
Antonyms | frequent | ||
3. | rare not widely distributed | ||
Samples | Rare herbs. Rare patches of green in the desert. | ||
Similar | scarce | ||
Antonyms | abundant | ||
4. | rare having low density | ||
Samples | Rare gasses. Lightheaded from the rarefied mountain air. | ||
Synonyms | rarefied, rarified | ||
Similar | thin | ||
Antonyms | thick | ||
5. | rare marked by an uncommon quality; especially superlative or extreme of its kind | ||
Samples | What is so rare as a day in June. A rare skill. An uncommon sense of humor. She was kind to an uncommon degree. | ||
Synonyms | uncommon | ||
Similar | extraordinary | ||
Antonyms | ordinary | ||
6. | rare (of meat) cooked a short time; still red inside | ||
Samples | Rare roast beef. | ||
Similar | raw | ||
Antonyms | cooked | ||