grooming

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of grooming

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

Example Sentences

Sick dogs can easily be reinfected by grooming themselves and living in an unclean environment.

From Los Angeles Times

Mitchum’s other monthly expenses include $200 for a gym membership and fitness classes, about $800 on eating out and cultural events, and about $450 combined for things like travel, personal grooming and charitable giving.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among other things, Homeboy operates an 18-month program where trainees work in all of the nonprofit’s 14 social enterprises, which include food service, dog grooming and electronic recycling.

From Los Angeles Times

With the 81-year-old president winning a seventh term, analysts say this is likely to be his last term and he is grooming his 51-year-son to succeed him.

From BBC

She grinned at him—her eyes tipped up at the corners when she smiled—and began grooming the griffin’s wings, who objected with both sets of claws.

From Literature

Related Words

• admonition
• censure
• rebuke