not done, seen, happening, etc. very often. a rare disease/occurrence/event; This weekend, visitors will get a rare chance to visit the private apartments. Rare breed noun · Rare gas noun · Rare earth noun · Rarebit noun

1not done, seen, happening, etc. · 2existing only in small numbers and therefore valuable or interesting a rare book/coin/stamp a rare breed/plant This species ...

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective rare. See 'Meaning & use' for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Of something encountered haphazardly or at substantial intervals: characterized by infrequency of occurrence; occasional. In early use often (Medicine) of the ...

​a variety of farm animal that only exists in small numbers, especially one that is traditionally farmed in a particular region. The wool comes from a rare ...

noun. /ˈreərəti/ /ˈrerəti/ (plural rarities) ​[countable] a person or thing that is unusual and is therefore often valuable or interesting.

a person or thing that is unusual and is therefore often valuable or interesting. Women are still something of a rarity in senior positions in business.

RARE definition: 1. not common or frequent; very unusual: 2. someone or something unusual: 3. (of meat) not cooked…. Learn more.

(also inert gas, noble gas) (chemistry) any of a group of gases that do not react with other chemicals. Argon, helium, krypton and neon are rare gases.

​any one of a group of chemical elements that have similar properties and tend to occur together in nature. We import all of our rare earths from China.