Grooming
/ˈɡruːmɪŋ/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo clean and care for the body or appearance of (a person or animal).
/ˈɡruːmɪŋ/
To care for the appearance of (a person or animal)
She spends an hour each morning grooming her horse.
💡 Simply: Grooming is like giving your pet a spa day or taking care of your own hair and clothes to look your best. It means making something neat and clean.
👶 For kids: Grooming is when you brush your hair or help your pet look nice by cleaning them.
More Examples
The salon offers a wide range of grooming services for dogs.
He carefully groomed his beard before the interview.
How It's Used
"The dog loves being groomed; it makes his fur soft and shiny."
"He spends a lot of time grooming himself before going out."
The act of making someone or something look neat and tidy; the act of caring for the appearance of a person or animal.
/ˈɡruːmɪŋ/
The act of caring for the appearance of a person or animal
The dog enjoyed the gentle grooming.
💡 Simply: Grooming, as a noun, is all about the things we do to look and feel good, like brushing your hair, trimming your nails, or giving your dog a bath.
👶 For kids: Grooming is when you take care of your looks, like combing your hair or taking a bath!
More Examples
Professional grooming can keep a pet's coat healthy.
His meticulous grooming was part of his image.
How It's Used
"Regular grooming is essential for the health of a long-haired cat."
"He made an appointment for a grooming session at the barber shop."
The process by which an individual, often a child, is befriended and manipulated by a predator, often for sexual abuse or other forms of exploitation.
/ˈɡruːmɪŋ/
The process by which someone, often a child, is befriended and manipulated by a predator, usually for sexual abuse.
The police investigation revealed evidence of online grooming.
💡 Simply: Grooming can also mean a dangerous situation where someone tries to befriend a child to trick them into something bad, like causing them harm.
👶 For kids: This kind of grooming means someone is trying to trick a kid into doing something they shouldn't, so it's super important to tell a grown-up if someone is being too friendly in a weird way online or in person.
More Examples
Educational programs are designed to teach children about grooming tactics.
It is vital to be aware of the signs of grooming to protect vulnerable individuals.
How It's Used
"Awareness about online grooming is critical for child protection."
"The court heard evidence of the grooming process the offender used to gain the victim's trust."
Idioms & expressions
groom yourself for
Prepare yourself for something.
"He groomed himself for the upcoming debate by studying the issues."
From Middle English *grommen* (to tend a horse), related to Old French *grom* (groom, servant). The modern sense of personal care developed later.
Historically, 'grooming' was primarily associated with taking care of horses and livestock. The modern connotations of personal care and manipulative tactics are relatively recent developments.
Memory tip
Think of a horse being brushed and cared for – that’s grooming!
Word Origin
"to tend (a horse)"