Sparse (?), a. [Compar.Sparser (?); superl.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.