spruce

²spruce

adj

spruc·erspruc·est

Definition of SPRUCE

: neat or smart in appearance : trim

— spruce·ly adverb

— spruce·ness noun

Examples of SPRUCE

1. He looked very spruce in his new suit.
2. <a slim, spruce man in a tailor-made business suit>

Origin of SPRUCE

perhaps from obsolete English Spruce leather leather imported from Prussia

First Known Use: 1599

Related to SPRUCE

Synonyms: dapper, natty, sharp, snappy, smart

Antonyms: disheveled (or dishevelled), frowsy (or frowzy), sloppy, slovenly, unkempt

Related Words: dolled up, dressy, elegant, formal, spiffed-up; orderly, tidy; à la mode (also a la mode), chic, fashionable, in, modish, stylish; careful, fastidious, fussy, meticulous; combed, groomed; clean, immaculate, pristine, spotless, squeaky-clean

Near Antonyms: messy, mussed, rumpled, uncombed, untidy, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy; dingy, dirty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, nasty, scroungy, scrubby, scruffy, scuzzy [slang], smirched, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, unclean; dowdy, inelegant, unfashionable, unstylish

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