/ spɑːs; NAmE spɑːrs/ adjective
( comparative sparser , no superlative ) only present in small amounts or numbers and often spread over a large area :
the sparse population of the islands
Vegetation becomes sparse higher up the mountains.
The information available on the subject is sparse.
► sparse·ly adverb :
a sparsely populated area
► sparse·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent. (used to describe writing in the sense widely spaced ): from Latin sparsus , past participle of spargere scatter.