Scattered boxes on base (6)
I believe the answer is:
sparse
'scattered' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'boxes on base' is the wordplay.
'boxes' becomes 'spars' (sparring is a kind of boxing).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'base' becomes 'e' (I've seen this in other clues).
'spars'+'e'='SPARSE'
(Other definitions for sparse that I've seen before include "Rare" , "Thinly dotted about" , "In short supply" , "rarely occurring" , "Not much" .)