tidy

[ tahy-dee ]
/ ˈtaɪ di /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR tidy ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, ti·di·er, ti·di·est.

verb (used with or without object), ti·died, ti·dy·ing.

to make tidy or neat (often followed by up).

noun, plural ti·dies.

any of various articles for keeping things tidy, as a box having small drawers and compartments.
an antimacassar.

Origin of tidy

1200–50; Middle English tidi, tidy seasonable, hence good; cognate with Dutch tijdig. See tide1, -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM tidy

ti·di·ly, adverb ti·di·ness, noun

Words nearby tidy

tides, tidewaiter, tidewater, tideway, tidings, tidy, tidytips, tie, tie bar, tie beam, tie clasp

Words related to tidiness

cleanliness, orderliness, uniformity

Example sentences from the Web for tidiness

British Dictionary definitions for tidiness

tidy
/ (ˈtaɪdɪ) /

adjective -dier or -diest

characterized by or indicating neatness and order
informal considerable a tidy sum of money

verb -dies, -dying or -died

(when intr, usually foll by up) to put (things) in order; neaten

noun plural -dies

  1. a small container in which odds and ends are kept
  2. sink tidy a container with holes in the bottom, kept in the sink to retain rubbish that might clog the plug hole
mainly US and Canadian an ornamental protective covering for the back or arms of a chair

Derived forms of tidy

tidily, adverb tidiness, noun

Word Origin for tidy

C13 (in the sense: timely, seasonable, excellent): from tide 1 + -y 1; related to Dutch tijdig timely