English Dictionary |
SPRUCE UP
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Dictionary entry overview: What does spruce up mean?
• SPRUCE UP (verb)
The verb SPRUCE UP has 2 senses:
2. dress and groom with particular care, as for a special occasion
Familiarity information: SPRUCE UP used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make neat, smart, or trim
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
slick up; smarten up; spiff up; spruce; spruce up; titivate; tittivate
Context example:
titivate the child
Hypernyms (to "spruce up" is one way to...):
beautify; embellish; fancify; prettify (make more beautiful)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Dress and groom with particular care, as for a special occasion
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
slick up; smarten up; spruce; spruce up
Context example:
He spruced up for the party
Hypernyms (to "spruce up" is one way to...):
groom; neaten (care for one's external appearance)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
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