adjective, adverb
adjective (scarcer, scarcest) if sth is scarce, there is not enough of it and it is only available in small quantities:
scarce resources * Details of the accident are scarce. * Food was becoming scarce.
IDIOMS
make oneself scarce (informal) to leave somewhere and stay away for a time in order to avoid an unpleasant situation:
I could see he was annoyed so I made myself scarce.
adverb (literary) only just; almost not:
I can scarce remember him.
