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

Derived Forms

• ˈgroomer, noun
• ˈgrooming, noun

Other Words From

• groom·er noun
• groom·ish adjective
• groom·ish·ly adverb
• non·groom·ing adjective
• re·groom verb (used with object)
• un·groomed adjective

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

"I think it’s obvious he was grooming me, trying to pull me in," he said.

From BBC

It was the description chosen by the independent review commissioned by the Church of England to investigate how Smyth was able to groom and abuse children at Christian camps and in schools for so long.

From BBC

A former pupil who claimed Foden groomed her for five years said teachers and other school staff saw her get into his car alone several times.

From BBC

"It was calculated, he focused on boys. He groomed young men. He encouraged them to take showers in the nude with him. There was a pattern of violence," he said.

From BBC

Last week, Los Angeles police said the teacher “groomed” him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comb
• educate
• prim
• tend