grooming

noun

1. the care of a body and its physical appearance, such as the personal hygiene routine of brushing one’s teeth or combing one’s hair, or the washing, brushing, etc., of a dog or horse.

   Grooming your dogs at home is less expensive than taking them to the groomer, if you can stand the wet dog smell and the hair that ends up everywhere.

2. the act or result of preparing a trail for a specific use, such as skiing, biking, or hiking.

   Donation boxes have been posted at each trail to cover their grooming and other maintenance costs.

3. the act or process of preparing someone to fill a position or role or to undertake an activity.

   The grooming of new personnel to handle additional responsibilities requires team leaders who will act as mentors and share constructive feedback.

4. an act or instance of engaging in behaviors or practices intended to gradually condition or emotionally manipulate a victim over time, as through friendship, gifts, flattery, etc., in order to entrap the person in a sexually abusive or predatory relationship.

   The ongoing targeting and grooming of minors online shows that our safety protocols for children on the internet are insufficient.

Word History and Origins

Origin of grooming¹

First recorded in 1810–20 grooming for def. 1 and in 1985–90 grooming for def. 4; groom ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Some members of the gang worked in legitimate jobs as food delivery drivers, but were also grooming a succession of young women from the local area.

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In a statement, the Met said it was reinvestigating the cases which involve "intra-familial, peer-on-peer and in institutional settings, along with those which do not fit the common understanding of a 'grooming gang'".

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The company’s beauty and grooming segments, which include brands like Head & Shoulders and Gillette, drove the solid results.

Read more on Barron's

Organic sales edged up 2% due to higher pricing and a more favorable mix, with growth in the company’s beauty, grooming and healthcare segments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Police forces have made progress in tackling grooming gangs and child exploitation but "significant challenges" remain, a watchdog says.

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Related Words

• admonition 
• censure 
• rebuke