scarce
Pronunciation: (skârs), [key]
— adj., adv. scarc•er, scarc•est,
—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.
-
- to depart, esp. suddenly.
- to stay away; avoid.
—adv.
- scarcely.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.