Meaning
Groom has two main meanings:
-
As a noun:
- A man on his wedding day or just before it. (e.g., bride and groom)
- A person whose job is to take care of horses.
-
As a verb:
- To clean, brush, or care for something or someone (e.g., animals, personal appearance).
- To prepare someone for a particular role or position.
- To gain someone’s trust gradually (sometimes used negatively, e.g., in manipulation).
Grammar and Usage
- Noun: countable (a groom, the groom).
- Verb: regular verb (groom – groomed – grooming).
- Transitive verb when it means “to clean or prepare” (She groomed her dog).
- Can be used figuratively (He is being groomed for leadership).
Sentence Structures
- Noun: the groom and the bride
- Verb (transitive): groom sb/sth → She grooms her horse every day.
- Verb (figurative): groom sb for sth → He was groomed for a managerial position.
Common Phrases
- Bride and groom
- Well-groomed (neatly dressed and tidy)
- Groom for success
- Groom a horse/pet
Collocations
- Verb + groom: train and groom, prepare and groom
- Adjective + groom: young groom, handsome groom
- Noun + groom: bride and groom, horse groom
- Adverb + groomed: well-groomed, carefully groomed
Examples
- The bride and groom posed for photographs after the ceremony.
- She grooms her dog every morning to keep its coat shiny.
- The young man was groomed by his mentor to take over the family business.
- He always looks well-groomed in his suit and polished shoes.
- The stable employed three grooms to take care of the horses.
- The company is grooming her to become the next director.
- The cat spent hours grooming itself in the sun.
- The parents were delighted to see the groom waiting nervously at the altar.
Synonyms or Related
- Noun: bridegroom, stable boy, horse-keeper
- Verb: prepare, train, coach, tend, brush, clean
- Adjective (related): tidy, neat, well-dressed