groom
a bridegroom.
a man or boy in charge of horses or the stable.
any of several officers of the English royal household.
Archaic. a manservant.
to tend carefully as to person and dress; make neat or tidy.
to clean, brush, and otherwise tend (a horse, dog, etc.).
to prepare (a trail) for a specific use, such as skiing, biking, or hiking: The resort is currently grooming 7 miles of cross-country ski trails for your enjoyment this winter.
to prepare for a position, election, etc.: Both of these young goalies are being groomed for roles in the NHL.
to condition or manipulate (a victim) emotionally over time, as through friendship, gifts, flattery, etc., in order to entrap the person in a sexually abusive or predatory relationship.
(of an animal) to tend (itself or another) by removing dirt, parasites, or specks of other matter from the fur, skin, feathers, etc.: often performed as a social act.
Origin of groom
1Other words from groom
- groom·er, noun
- groom·ish, adjective
- groom·ish·ly, adverb
- non·groom·ing, adjective
- re·groom, verb (used with object)
- un·groomed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for groom
/ (ɡruːm, ɡrʊm) /
a person employed to clean and look after horses
See bridegroom
any of various officers of a royal or noble household
archaic a male servant or attendant
archaic, poetic a young man
to make or keep (clothes, appearance, etc) clean and tidy
to rub down, clean, and smarten (a horse, dog, etc)
to train or prepare for a particular task, occupation, etc: to groom someone for the Presidency
to win the confidence of (a victim) in order to a commit sexual assault on him or her
Origin of groom
1Derived forms of groom
- groomer, noun
- grooming, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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