groove

[ groov ]

noun

1. a long, narrow cut or indentation in a surface, as the cut in a board to receive the tongue of another board tongue-and-groove joint, a furrow, or a natural indentation on an organism.
2. the track or channel of a phonograph record for the needle or stylus.
3. a fixed routine:

   to get into a groove.

   Synonyms: pattern, habit, rut

4. Printing. the furrow at the bottom of a piece of type.
5. Slang. an enjoyable time or experience.

verb (used with object)

, grooved, groov·ing.

1. to cut a groove in; furrow.
2. Slang.
   1. to appreciate and enjoy.
   2. to please immensely.

verb (used without object)

, grooved, groov·ing.

1. Slang.
   1. to take great pleasure; enjoy oneself:

      He was grooving on the music.

   2. to get along or interact well.
2. to fix in a groove.

groove

/ ɡruːv /

noun

1. a long narrow channel or furrow, esp one cut into wood by a tool
2. the spiral channel, usually V-shaped, in a gramophone record See also microgroove
3. one of the spiral cuts in the bore of a gun
4. anatomy any furrow or channel on a bodily structure or part; sulcus
5. mountaineering a shallow fissure in a rock face or between two rock faces, forming an angle of more than 120°
6. a settled existence, routine, etc, to which one is suited or accustomed, esp one from which it is difficult to escape
7. slang.
   an experience, event, etc, that is groovy
8. in the groove
   1. jazz playing well and apparently effortlessly, with a good beat, etc
   2. fashionable

verb

1. tr to form or cut a groove in
2. old-fashioned.
   intr to enjoy oneself or feel in rapport with one's surroundings
3. intr jazz to play well, with a good beat, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈgrooveless, adjective
• ˈgrooveˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• grooveless adjective
• groovelike adjective
• groover noun
• re·groove verb (used with object) regrooved regrooving

Word History and Origins

Origin of groove¹

1350–1400; Middle English grofe, groof mining shaft; cognate with Middle Dutch groeve, Dutch groef, German Grube pit, ditch; akin to grave ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of groove¹

C15: from obsolete Dutch groeve, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German gruoba pit, Old Norse grof

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the groove, Slang.
   1. in perfect functioning order.
   2. in the popular fashion; up-to-date:

      If you want to be in the groove this summer, you'll need a bikini.

More idioms and phrases containing groove

see in the groove .

Example Sentences

He and Evans never find their groove, and while Evans’ Boston-accented deadbeat cad routine is rote for him at this point, Johnson feels adrift, never locking in to a specific tone.

From Los Angeles Times

In L.A., and indeed anywhere, it’s easy to fall into a groove, to stop looking around, to think we’ve done well enough.

From Los Angeles Times

Not just because of the July’s battering that depleted their numbers so much, but because the Conservatives have been in the groove of attacking each other for many years now.

From BBC

Lewis and King, who hit a scratchy 30 from 56, may have struggled initially, but Lewis found his groove towards the end of the powerplay and went on to continually lift England's bowlers over the boundary ropes.

From BBC

They were outmuscled in a particularly strong League A group last year but rediscovered their groove and grit in the recent unbeaten League B campaign.

From BBC

Related Words

• slot