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Webster 1913 Edition

Sparse

Sparse

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Sparser
;
sup
erl.
Sparsest
.]
[L.
sparsus
, p. p. of
spargere
to strew, scatter. Cf.
Asperse
,
Disperse
.]
1.
Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; not being dense or close together;
as, a
sparse
population
.
Carlyle.
2.
(Bot.)
Placed irregularly and distantly; scattered; – applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, and the like.

Sparse

,
Verb.
T.
[L.
sparsus
, p. p. of
spargere
to scatter.]
To scatter; to disperse.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sparse

SPARSE

,
Adj.
spars. [L. sparsus, scattered, from spargo.]
1.
Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; as a sparse population.
2.
In botany, not opposite, not alternate, nor in any apparent regular order; applied to branches, leaves peduncles, &c.

SPARSE

,
Verb.
T.
spars. To disperse. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

sparse

sparse

English

Adjective

sparse ‎(comparative sparser, superlative sparsest)

  1. Having widely spaced intervals.
  2. Not dense; meager.

Related terms

Derived terms

  • sparse array
  • sparse index
  • sparse matrix

Translations

Verb

sparse ‎(third-person singular simple present sparses, present participle sparsing, simple past and past participle sparsed)

  1. (obsolete) To scatter; to disperse.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

Anagrams

Italian

Verb

sparse

  1. third-person singular past historic of spargere
  2. third-person singular past historic of sparere

sparse f

  1. feminine plural of sparso

Anagrams

Latin

Participle

sparse

  1. vocative masculine singular of sparsus

Etymology

From Latin sparsus.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /spɑːs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /spɑːɹs/

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