sparse

Having widely spaced intervals.

Adjective

  1. Having widely spaced intervals.
    • a sparse array, index, or matrix
    • The Leicester to Grimsby service will become hourly throughout (with some extensions to Cleethorpes as at present), while a new hourly Peterborough to Doncaster service via Spalding, Sleaford and Lincoln will join up...
  2. Not dense; meager; scanty
  3. Having few nonzero elements

Origin

Etymology tree Latin sparsusbor. English sparse Borrowed from Latin sparsus.

Forms

sparser sparsest

Synonyms

spread out thin insufficient paltry

Related

sparge thin out

Derived

nonsparse sparse array sparsely sparsen sparseness sparse table sparsification sparsify sparsistency sparsistent sparsity ultrasparse unsparse

Verb

  1. To disperse, to scatter.
    • They began properly to ſparſe pretye rumours in the North, that no man ſhulde eate whyte breade, no man eate pygge, gooſe, or capon, without he agreed before with the kynge. - 1536, [Richard Morison], A Remedy for...

    Synonyms: besprenge broadcast desparple discuss disgregate disparkle disparple dispel disperple disperse distribute dwindle straggle flurr insperse instrew litter overshake resperse scatter squander sparble sparkle sparse

Forms

sparses sparsing sparsed

Derived

sparsedly