Main Entry: sparse

Pronunciation: \ˈspärs\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): spars·er; spars·est

Etymology: Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

Date: 1753

: of few and scattered elements; especially : not thickly grown or settled

synonyms see meager

— sparse·ly adverb

— sparse·ness noun

— spar·si·ty \ˈspär-sə-tē, -stē\ noun