3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use rare to emphasize an extremely good or remarkable quality. [EMPHASIS ] □ Ferris has a rare ability to record her observations on paper.
4 ADJ Meat that is rare is cooked very lightly so that the inside is still red. □ Thick tuna steaks are eaten rare, like beef. SYNONYMS rare ADJ 1
unusuaclass="underline" To be appreciated as a parent is quite unusual.
uncommon: A 15-year lifespan is not uncommon for a dog.
exceptionaclass="underline" …if the courts hold that this case is exceptional.
rar|efied /reə r I fa I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you talk about the rarefied atmosphere of a place or institution, you are expressing your disapproval of it, because it has a special social or academic status that makes it very different from ordinary life. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the rarefied atmosphere of the property market in Belgravia, Chelsea and Mayfair.
2 ADJ Rarefied air is air that does not contain much oxygen, for example in mountain areas. □ …living at very high altitudes where the atmosphere is rarefied.
rare|ly ◆◇◇ /reə r li/ ADV [ADV before v] If something rarely happens, it does not happen very often. □ June and her daughters laughed a lot and rarely fought. □ Money was plentiful, and rarely did anyone seem very bothered about levels of expenditure. SYNONYMS rarely ADV
seldom: They seldom speak.
hardly: Hardly a day goes by without a visit from someone.
infrequently: The bridge is used infrequently.
rar|ing /reə r I ŋ/
1 PHRASE If you say that you are raring to go , you mean that you are very eager to start doing something. □ After a good night's sleep, Paul said he was raring to go.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf] If you are raring to do something or are raring for it, you are very eager to do it or very eager that it should happen. □ He is raring to charge into the fray and lay down the law. □ Baker suggested the administration wasn't raring for a fight.
rar|ity /reə r I ti/ (rarities )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone or something is a rarity , they are interesting or valuable because they are so unusual. [JOURNALISM ] □ Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] The rarity of something is the fact that it is very uncommon. □ It was a real prize due to its rarity and good condition.
ras|cal /rɑː sk ə l, ræ s-/ (rascals ) N‑COUNT If you call a man or child a rascal , you mean that they behave badly and are rude or dishonest. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ What's that old rascal been telling you?
ras|cal|ly /rɑː skəli, ræ s-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as a rascally person, you mean that they behave badly and are wicked or dishonest. [LITERARY ] □ They stumble across a ghost town inhabited by a rascally gold prospector.
rash /ræ ʃ/ (rashes )
1 ADJ If someone is rash or does rash things, they act without thinking carefully first, and therefore make mistakes or behave foolishly. □ It would be rash to rely on such evidence. □ The Prime Minister is making no rash promises. ● rash|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ I made quite a lot of money, but I rashly gave most of it away. ● rash|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ With characteristic rashness and valor, he plunged into the icy water.
2 N‑COUNT A rash is an area of red spots that appears on your skin when you are ill or have a bad reaction to something that you have eaten or touched. □ He may break out in a rash when he eats these nuts.
3 N‑SING If you talk about a rash of events or things, you mean a large number of unpleasant events or undesirable things, which have happened or appeared within a short period of time. □ [+ of ] …one of the few major airlines left untouched by the industry's rash of takeovers.
rash|er /ræ ʃə r / (rashers ) N‑COUNT A rasher of bacon is a slice of bacon. [BRIT ] in AM, use slice
rasp /rɑː sp, ræ sp/ (rasps , rasping , rasped )
1 VERB If someone rasps , their voice or breathing is harsh and unpleasant to listen to. □ [V with quote] 'Where've you put it?' he rasped. □ [V ] He fell back into the water, his breath rasping in his heaving chest. ● N‑SING Rasp is also a noun. □ [+ of ] He was still laughing when he heard the rasp of Rennie's voice.
2 VERB If something rasps or if you rasp it, it makes a harsh, unpleasant sound as it rubs against something hard or rough. □ [V prep] Sabres rasped from scabbards and the horsemen spurred forward. □ [V n prep] Foden rasped a hand across his chin. ● N‑SING Rasp is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the rasp of something being drawn across the sand.
rasp|berry /rɑː zbri, [AM ] ræ zberi/ (raspberries ) N‑COUNT Raspberries are small, soft, red fruit that grow on bushes.
raspy /rɑː spi, ræ s-/ ADJ If someone has a raspy voice, they make rough sounds as if they have a sore throat or have difficulty in breathing. [LITERARY ] □ Both men sang in a deep, raspy tone.
Ras|ta /ræ stə/ (Rastas )
1 N‑COUNT A Rasta is the same as a Rastafarian . [INFORMAL ] □ Ethiopia is Zion - the Rastas' promised land.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Rasta means the same as Rastafarian . [INFORMAL ] □ He comes from Camden but was brought up in Rasta culture by his Jamaican father.
Ras|ta|far|ian /ræ stəfeə riən/ (Rastafarians )