sparse — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Having widely spaced intervals.

   Examples

   a sparse array, index, or matrix

   More examples (1)

   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 two routes with a sparse service at present.

2. Not dense; meager; scanty

3. Having few nonzero elements

Verb

1. To disperse, to scatter.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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.

Adjective

1. not dense

   Synonyms

   thin

   Examples

   a thin beard

   trees were sparse