I. spruce 1 /spruːs/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: spruce fir 'spruce' , from Spruce 'Prussia' , former European country, now part of Germany (14-17 centuries) ]
a tree that grows in northern countries and has short leaves shaped like needles
II. spruce 2 BrE AmE verb
[ Origin: [ 1500-1600 From ⇨ ↑ spruce 3 ]
spruce up phrasal verb
informal to make yourself or something look neater and tidier:
Paul went upstairs to spruce up before dinner.
spruce somebody/something ↔ up
The cottage had been spruced up a bit since her last visit.
III. spruce 3 BrE AmE adjective British English
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Perhaps from Spruce leather 'leather brought from Prussia' (15-18 centuries) ; ⇨ ↑ spruce 1 \]
neat and clean:
Mr Bailey was looking very spruce in a white linen suit.
—sprucely adverb