Rare Meaning
Rare Definition & Usage
Uncommon, infrequent, or scarce in occurrence, quality, or presence.
Examples
- "Rare birds are often seen only during migration season."
- "This restaurant serves rare steak, cooked just the way I like it."
- "The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient Egypt."
- "A rare event like this doesn't happen every day."
- "The rare species of flower blooms only once every five years."
Referring to meat, especially steak, cooked lightly, with the inside remaining mostly raw.
Examples
- "I like my steak rare, with just a sear on the outside."
- "She ordered her steak rare, but it came out medium well."
- "A rare burger might not be to everyone's taste, but it's perfect for me."
- "The chef recommended a rare cut of lamb for the dinner special."
- "He prefers his tuna sashimi served rare, just barely seared on the edges."
Used to describe something unique or exceptional, often implying high value due to its rarity or extraordinary nature.
Examples
- "She has a rare gift for languages, picking up new ones with ease."
- "The rare opportunity to work with such a renowned artist was a dream come true."
- "Their rare ability to connect with people on a deep level made them a great leader."
- "It’s rare to find someone with such a perfect combination of talent and humility."
- "A rare moment of peace descended on the chaotic household when the children went to sleep."
Cultural Context
The word 'rare' has evolved over time to describe things that are not only uncommon, but often hold a sense of prestige due to their scarcity. In culinary contexts, it refers to the preparation of meat, especially steak, where the meat is cooked lightly to maintain its original tenderness and flavor. The term is also used metaphorically in everyday language to emphasize the unusual or extraordinary nature of something.
The Rare Encounter
Story
The Rare Encounter
It was a humid afternoon when Claire stepped into the dense forest, her boots crunching on the dried leaves beneath her feet. As an ecologist, she had been searching for a rare species of butterfly that had only been spotted in these parts once or twice in the past decade. Her colleagues had doubted its existence, but Claire was determined. She was no stranger to the challenges of locating something so elusive, a trait that made her good at what she did. But today felt different. The forest seemed to hum with an energy she couldn't quite place. Hours passed, and Claire’s optimism began to wane. She stopped to rest by a bubbling stream, her mind drifting as she absentmindedly flipped through her field notes. Just as she was about to give up, a flicker of movement caught her eye. There, perched on the edge of a mossy rock, was the butterfly she had been hunting. Its wings shimmered in the dappled sunlight, the blue and gold colors a perfect match for the rare creature she had come to find. As Claire crouched down to get a closer look, she realized this rare discovery wasn’t just a professional triumph—it was a personal one, too. This butterfly symbolized her persistence and belief in the extraordinary, in the rare things that made life worth living. But Claire wasn’t the only one who had a rare encounter that day. Back at her research station, her colleague James was enjoying a rare moment of peace. The children he had been babysitting for the past few weeks had finally gone to bed, and the silence of the house felt like an oasis. He smiled, pouring himself a glass of wine and reflecting on the rare connections he had formed with people during his travels. His life had been full of rare experiences—each one unique and precious in its own way. And now, like Claire, he found himself at peace, savoring the moment. Claire’s rare discovery and James’s quiet evening were two separate stories, but both spoke to the power of rarity in shaping our lives. Whether it was a rare butterfly or a rare moment of stillness, these experiences were reminders that the exceptional was worth seeking out, no matter how elusive.
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