From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgroomgroom1 /ɡruːm, ɡrʊm/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 MARRYa bridegroom2 BODSHsomeone whose job is to feed, clean, and take care of horses
Examples from the Corpus
groom• Did I care that he smelled like a groom?• A groom ran forward to hold their horses while another ambled off to tell Sir Thomas of their arrival.• The tears which coursed down his cheeks were not for the head groom.• The fool was very grateful, and so was the groom, because he had found one fool greater than his wife.• Was the groom willing to swear.• The groom remained hanging on to the canopy railing, his face smeared with dirt, his shirt torn and flapping.groomgroom2 ●○○ verb 1 [transitive]HBA to clean and brush an animal, especially a horse2 [transitive]PREPARE to prepare someone for an important job or position in society by training them over a long periodgroom somebody for something Tim was being groomed for a managerial position.groom somebody to do something Clare’s been groomed to take her father’s place when he retires.3 [transitive]DC to take care of your own appearance by keeping your hair and clothes clean and tidy Her hair is always perfectly groomed. → well-groomed4 [transitive] to develop a friendship with a child, with the intention of starting a sexual relationship. This is done by adults, and is illegal when the child is younger than 16.5 [intransitive, transitive]HBA if an animal grooms itself or another animal, it cleans its own fur and skin or that of the other animal→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
groom• On the other hand heads have every right to expect staff to be well groomed and reasonably dressed at work.• Jiang was groomed as Deng's replacement• Toning Whoever heard of any of them being groomed by a fashion editor and strapped into toning pinks for a photo call?• Bashar has been groomed for power since the death of his brother in 1994.• Most people believe he is being groomed for the party leadership.• Mrs Adams had groomed her only daughter to be a perfect wife and mother.• This preference could not of course be satisfied for all members of the troop at once since baboons groom in couples.• The resort has fifteen magnificently groomed ski runs.• It is our shared need to groom that unites the world of women.groom somebody to do something• Graham's son was being groomed to take over the business.Origin groom2 1. (1600-1700) → BRIDEGROOM2. (1100-1200) Probably from an unrecorded Old English groma “boy, man, male servant” 