rare

views updated May 21 2018

rare¹ / re(ə)r/ • adj. (rar·er, rar·est) (of an event, situation, or condition) not occurring very often: a rare genetic disorder | it's rare to meet someone who's content with their life. ∎ (of a thing) not found in large numbers and consequently of interest or value: the jellyfish tree, one of the rarest plants on earth. ∎ unusually good or remarkable: he plays with rare strength and sensitivity.DERIVATIVES: rare·ness n.rare² • adj. (rar·er, rar·est) (of meat, esp. beef) lightly cooked, so that the inside is still red.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

RARE

views updated Jun 11 2018

RARE Acronym for Réseaux Associés pour la Recherche Européenne. A loose association of private or semiprivate packet networks operated by a number of European countries for the use of their academic and research communities. JANET is one such network. RARE was formed to foster cooperation on matters of common interest. It is not intended that RARE shall operate a network itself.

A Dictionary of Computing JOHN DAINTITH

rare

views updated Jun 11 2018

rare1 †not thick or closely set; few and widely separated; of unusual merit XV; uncommon XVI. — L. rārus.
So rarefy XIV. — (O)F. raréfier or medL. rārificāre. rarity XVI. — F. rareté, †rarité, or L. rāritās.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

RARE

views updated May 18 2018

RARE Computing réseaux associés pour la recherche européenne (French: Associate Networks for European Research)

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH