释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024scarce /skɛrs/USA pronunciation adj., scarc•er, scarc•est, adv. adj. - insufficient:[often: be + ~]Jobs are scarce in difficult times.
- rarely found or seen.
adv. - scarcely:She could scarce believe her eyes.
Idioms- Idioms make oneself scarce, [no object]
- to leave, esp. quickly:This party is boring; let's make ourselves scarce.
- to stay away.
scarce•ness, n. [uncountable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024scarce (skârs),USA pronunciation adj., scarc•er, scarc•est, adv. adj. - insufficient to satisfy the need or demand;
not abundant:Meat and butter were scarce during the war. - seldom met with;
rare:a scarce book. - Idioms make oneself scarce, [Informal.]
- to depart, esp. suddenly.
- to stay away;
avoid.
adv. - scarcely.
- Vulgar Latin *excarpsus plucked out, for Latin excerptus; see excerpt
- Old North French (e)scars
- Middle English scars 1250–1300
scarce′ness, n. - 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged deficient.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged uncommon, infrequent.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged abundant.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: scarce /skɛəs/ adj - rarely encountered
- insufficient to meet the demand
- make oneself scarce ⇒ informal to go away, esp suddenly
adv - archaic or literary scarcely
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Norman French scars, from Vulgar Latin excarpsus (unattested) plucked out, from Latin excerpere to select; see excerptˈscarceness n |