spruce Definition
- 1a type of evergreen tree with short needles and small, brown cones
- 2neat, clean, and smart in appearance
Using spruce: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "spruce" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The spruce trees in the forest were tall and majestic.
Example
He always keeps his office looking spruce and organized.
Example
She wore a spruce suit to the job interview.
spruce Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using spruce
Example
He showed up to the party up like a spruce, wearing a sharp suit and polished shoes.
to make a place look neater or more attractive, especially by cleaning or decorating it
Example
We need to spruce the place up before the guests arrive.
a nickname for the Hughes H-4 Hercules airplane, a prototype aircraft designed and built by Howard Hughes
Example
The Spruce Goose is one of the largest airplanes ever built.
Phrases with spruce
spruce up
to make something look neater or more attractive, especially by cleaning or decorating it
Example
We need to spruce up the living room before the guests arrive.
Example
Spruce beer was a popular drink among early settlers in North America.
Example
The spruce grouse is known for its distinctive mating call.
Origins of spruce
from Old French 'pruce', meaning 'Prussian', as the tree was originally imported from Prussia
Summary: spruce in Brief
The term 'spruce' [spro͞os] refers to a type of evergreen tree with short needles and small, brown cones, as well as to neat, clean, and smart appearances. The former is exemplified by 'The spruce trees in the forest were tall and majestic.' The latter is shown in 'He always keeps his office looking spruce and organized.' 'Spruce' extends into phrases like 'spruce up,' and idioms like 'up like a spruce,' denoting neatly dressed or well-groomed individuals.
