Definition of Spruce up

1. Verb. Make neat, smart, or trim. "Titivate the child"

Exact synonyms: Slick Up, Smarten Up, Spiff Up, Spruce, Titivate, Tittivate
Generic synonyms: Beautify, Embellish, Fancify, Prettify
Derivative terms: Titivation, Tittivation

2. Verb. Dress and groom with particular care, as for a special occasion. "He spruced up for the party"
Exact synonyms: Slick Up, Smarten Up, Spruce
Generic synonyms: Groom, Neaten

Definition of Spruce up

1. Verb. (idiomatic) To dress or arrange smartly, elegantly, and neatly ¹

2. Verb. (idiomatic) To refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Spruce Up

sprote
sprout
sprouted
sprouted bread
sprouteth
sprouting
sprouts
sprouty
spruce
spruce bark beetle
spruce beer
spruce gall aphid
spruce grouse
spruce pine
spruce squirrel
spruce up (current term)
spruced
spruced up
sprucely
spruceness
sprucenesses
sprucer
spruces
spruces up
sprucest
sprucier
spruciest
sprucing
sprucing up
sprucy

Literary usage of Spruce up

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Permafrost: North American Contribution [to The] Second International Conference by Building Research Advisory Board Staff (1973)
"Of the four sites, site A supports black spruce up to 6 m high and dense growth, ... Site B supports open stunted black spruce up to 4 m high with 1.5-3 m ..."

2. Handbook for Newspaper Workers, Treating Grammar, Punctuation, English by Grant Milnor Hyde (1921)
"The infinitive sign to should be repeated in a series of infinitives: Faulty — He began to advertise, dress his windows, and in general spruce up his ..."

3. Sessional Papers by Ontario Legislative Assembly (1907)
"That portion of the township lying west of the Mattagami River is of a more or less rolling character timbered with spruce up to sixteen inches in diameter, ..."

4. The Gulf States: A Monthly Magazine Devoted to Agriculture, Hoticulture (1870)
"spruce up.—If you get a moment to spare, spruce up ; put that gate on its hinges ; put a little paint on the picket fence you built last year, trim up about ..."

5. The Old Shipmasters of Salem: With Mention of Eminent Merchants by Charles Edward Trow (1905)
"Being in Bombay, the port to which his cargo was consigned, he met two Salem captains, one of whom remarked: "Captain Tucker, why don't you spruce up a ..."

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