Meanings

1. adverb, adverb (to)sprinkling (of rain, salt, etc.); pattering
2. adverb, adverb (to)flipping (through a book, etc.); riffling
3. adjectival noun, na-adjective, adverb, adverb (to)sparse; scattered; sporadic
4. adjectival noun, na-adjective, adverb, adverb (to)crumbly (e.g. tofu, cheese); loose; non-sticky (e.g. rice)

Examples

• 雨がぱらぱら降り出しました。

  It began to sprinkle.

• 屋根には雨がぱらぱら落ちていた。

  Rain was pattering on the roof.

• パラパラと雨が降り始めたな。傘持ってくればよかったよ。

  I should have brought my umbrella. Large raindrops are starting to fall.

Sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).