(1)短缺的，不足的(insufficient to meet a demand or requirement)：～resources/supplies 资源短缺/供应不足;Food and fuel/Qualified workmen were～. 食品和燃料/合格的工人很短缺。〖同〗wanting;〖反〗plentiful，abundant;

(2)稀有的，罕见的(seldom found;rare)：Real old houses/Very old stamps are now～. 现在真正的古老房屋/非常老的邮票很罕见。Bold eagles are fairly～in North America. 在北美秃鹰已经相当稀少了。〖同〗 rare，exceptional;〖反〗common;

make oneself scarce 悄悄地走(溜)掉(infml)：As soon as his mother-in-law arrived，he made himself～. 他岳母一到，他立即就溜掉了。

→′scarcity n 短缺，不足;′scarcely adv;

【辨异】scarce与rare的区别见RARE。