definitions

sparse

[ spahrs ]
/ spɑrs /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sparse ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, spars·er, spars·est.

thinly scattered or distributed: a sparse population.
not thick or dense; thin: sparse hair.
scanty; meager.

RELATED WORDS

easily, delicately, casually, tenderly, moderately, gingerly, softly, simply, mildly, freely, quietly, slightly, faintly, subtly, comparatively, practically, seldom, barely, somewhat, rarely

Nearby words

sparrow hawk, sparrowfart, sparrowgrass, sparrowhawk, sparry, sparse, sparta, spartacist, spartacus, spartan, spartanburg

Origin of sparse

1715–25; < Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter, sparge

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for sparsely

sparse

/ (spɑːs) /

adjective

scattered or scanty; not dense

Derived Forms

sparsely, adverbsparseness or sparsity, noun

Word Origin for sparse

C18: from Latin sparsus, from spargere to scatter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012