- smarten
- smarten "to make smart, to spruce up, to improve appearance," 1815 (in "Emma"), from SMART (Cf. smart) (adj.).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
smarten
Look at other dictionaries:
Smarten — Smart en, v. t. To make smart or spruce; usually with up. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] She had to go and smarten herself up somewhat. W. Black. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
smarten — ► VERB (usu. smarten up) ▪ make or become smarter … English terms dictionary
smarten — index embellish Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
smarten — [smart′ n] vt., vi. to make or become smart or smarter; specif., a) to make or become neater or more stylish b) to make or become more alert, knowing, aware, etc.: usually with up … English World dictionary
smarten up — verb 1. make neat, smart, or trim Spruce up your house for Spring titivate the child • Syn: ↑spruce up, ↑spruce, ↑titivate, ↑tittivate, ↑slick up, ↑spiff up … Useful english dictionary
smarten sb up — UK US smarten (sb/sth) up Phrasal Verb with smarten({{}}/ˈsmɑːtən/ verb UK INFORMAL ► to improve your personal appearance or the appearance of something: »You ll need to buy a suit and smarten up a bit for the interview. »Staff were told to… … Financial and business terms
smarten up — UK US smarten (sb/sth) up Phrasal Verb with smarten({{}}/ˈsmɑːtən/ verb UK INFORMAL ► to improve your personal appearance or the appearance of something: »You ll need to buy a suit and smarten up a bit for the interview. »Staff were told to… … Financial and business terms
smarten — smart|en [ˈsma:tn US ˈsma:r ] v smarten up [smarten sth<=>up] phr v 1.) smarten yourself up to make yourself look neat and tidy ▪ You d better smarten yourself up. 2.) to make something look neater ▪ We need to smarten the place up a bit. 3 … Dictionary of contemporary English
smarten — /smahr tn/, v.t. 1. to make more trim or spruce; improve in appearance (usually fol. by up): Try to smarten up your outfit. 2. to make brisker, as a pace. 3. to sharpen the judgment or broaden the experience of; educate (usually fol. by up):… … Universalium
smarten — verb smarten up phrasal verb especially BrE also smarten yourself up (I) 1 to make yourself look neat and tidy: You d better smarten yourself up a bit before the interview. 2 (transitive smarten something up) to make something look neater: a coat … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
