groom

[groom, groom]

noun

1. a bridegroom.

2. a man or boy in charge of horses or the stable.

3. any of several officers of the English royal household.

4. Archaic.,  a manservant.

verb (used with object)

1. to tend carefully as to person and dress; make neat or tidy.

2. to clean, brush, and otherwise tend (a horse, dog, etc.).

3. 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.

4. to prepare for a position, election, etc..

   Both of these young goalies are being groomed for roles in the NHL.

5. 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.

6. (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.

groom

/ ɡruːm, ɡrʊm /

noun

1. a person employed to clean and look after horses

2. See bridegroom

3. any of various officers of a royal or noble household

4. archaic,  a male servant or attendant

5. archaic,  a young man

verb

1. to make or keep (clothes, appearance, etc) clean and tidy

2. to rub down, clean, and smarten (a horse, dog, etc)

3. to train or prepare for a particular task, occupation, etc

   to groom someone for the Presidency

4. to win the confidence of (a victim) in order to a commit sexual assault on him or her

Other Word Forms

• groomer noun
• groomish adjective
• groomishly adverb
• nongrooming adjective
• regroom verb (used with object)
• ungroomed adjective
• grooming noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of groom¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English grom, grome, groum “infant boy, boy, youth, groom”; further origin obscure; akin to grow

Word History and Origins

Origin of groom¹

C13 grom manservant; perhaps related to Old English grōwan to _grow

Example Sentences

However, ministers have not backed another of Findlay's amendments calling for the government to set up a grooming gangs inquiry.

From BBC

George Farahat, the groom, told The Times that the man was clearly visible in surveillance recording, carrying the gift box to a black Mercedes-Benz SUV waiting in an alley outside the banquet hall.

From Los Angeles Times

Police reports and surveillance footage are typically not on the top of the to-do list for a bride and groom on their wedding day.

From Los Angeles Times

With a twinkle in her eye, she recalls one groom who was confident he could make it through a reading, only to nearly collapse in tears at the sight of his bride.

From BBC

They added they had also seen grooms opt for injections as well.

From BBC

Related Words

• comb 
• educate 
• prim 
• tend