groom
groom — noun
1. a man who is about to get married or has just got married, usually seen as centr
a man who is about to get married or has just got married, usually seen as central to the wedding ceremony along with the bride
The bridegroom shook hands with each guest as they arrived at the church.
Chiara's mother cried when she saw the bridegroom waiting at the altar.
The bride and bridegroom exchanged rings in front of their families.
Zola asked the bridegroom what he had said in his wedding speech.
- husband-to-be
less common in casual speech; focuses on the future married status rather than the wedding event
- bride
the woman getting married on the same occasion
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, 'groom' is much more common than 'bridegroom'. Both refer to the same person — the man at a wedding.
常見錯誤
2. a person employed at a stable or riding school to feed horses, brush their coats
a person employed at a stable or riding school to feed horses, brush their coats, and keep their living areas clean
The groom woke up at dawn to feed the horses before the riders arrived.
collocation: feed the horses
Esteban worked as a groom at the riding school for two summers.
A good groom checks each horse for injuries after a long ride.
The stable hired an extra groom to help during the busy competition season.
- stable hand
more general; may also do cleaning and maintenance work beyond caring for horses
- horse handler
emphasises working with horses during riding or training, not just daily care
groom — verb
1. to brush, wash, or otherwise clean the fur, feathers, or coat of an animal so th
to brush, wash, or otherwise clean the fur, feathers, or coat of an animal so that it looks healthy and neat
Tariq spent an hour grooming his horse before the dressage competition.
collocation: groom a horse
The dog sat still while the vet groomed its thick winter coat.
Ari groomed the Shetland pony with a soft brush to remove the mud.
Before the show, every owner must groom their animal until its coat shines.
文法句型
groom + noun phrase
常見錯誤
2. when an animal licks, rubs, or picks through its own fur, feathers, or skin to k
when an animal licks, rubs, or picks through its own fur, feathers, or skin to keep itself clean — or two animals clean each other's fur as a social habit
The cat sat on the windowsill grooming its paws for several minutes.
intransitive: animal grooming itself
Chimpanzees spend hours each day grooming one another to strengthen social bonds.
After spilling milk on its fur, the kitten began grooming itself immediately.
The parrot groomed its feathers with its beak after finishing its meal.
- preen
used only for birds cleaning their feathers with their beaks
- lick clean
more specific; describes one action rather than the whole process
文法句型
groom + reflexive pronoun / (of animal) groom
用法筆記
This sense is used exclusively for animals, not people. When two animals clean each other, it is sometimes called 'allogrooming' in scientific contexts.
3. to flatten, smooth, or compact snow on a ski slope or trail so that skiers and s
to flatten, smooth, or compact snow on a ski slope or trail so that skiers and snowboarders can move easily and safely over the surface
The ski resort grooms its slopes every night before the morning skiers arrive.
collocation: groom a slope / trail
A snowcat drove across the mountain to groom the fresh powder into smooth trails.
Without properly groomed runs, beginner skiers would find it hard to stay upright.
The crew groomed the cross-country ski tracks just before the race started.
文法句型
groom + noun phrase (a slope / a trail / snow)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the context of skiing and winter sports. Equipment used for this purpose includes snowcats, snowmobiles fitted with grooming attachments, and specialised tractors.
4. to teach, train, and guide someone over time so that they become ready for a par
to teach, train, and guide someone over time so that they become ready for a particular job, position, or responsibility — for example, a company grooming a junior employee to become a manager, or a political party grooming a candidate for leadership
The company groomed Mira for a management position over three years.
pattern: groom + someone + for + position
Christopher was being groomed to take over his father's hardware store.
passive: be groomed to + infinitive
Young athletes are groomed for the national team from a very early age.
The university grooms its best students for careers in medical research.
Ravindra's mentor groomed him for a leadership role in the local council.
- train
broader and more common; training can be short-term or focus on one skill, whereas grooming implies longer-term career development
- mentor
emphasises personal guidance from an experienced person; less about formal training programmes
- prepare
more general; can apply to people, things, or situations, not just career-focused development
- coach
focused on improving performance in a specific area (sports, public speaking) rather than overall career readiness
文法句型
groom + noun phrase + for + noun phrase
groom + noun phrase + to-infinitive
be groomed as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice ('was groomed'). The subject is usually an organisation, senior person, or institution. Typically implies long-term, intentional development.
常見錯誤
5. when an adult secretly tries to befriend a minor by showing kindness and giving
when an adult secretly tries to befriend a minor by showing kindness and giving attention, with the planned purpose of later involving that young person in sexual acts — the law treats this behaviour as a serious crime
The police arrested the man for grooming a teenager through social media.
collocation: groom through social media / online
New laws make it a crime to groom a minor even if no physical contact takes place.
The school taught children how to recognise when an adult is trying to groom them.
The documentary showed how offenders groom young people by first gaining their trust.
- exploit
broader; covers all forms of taking advantage of someone, not just sexual abuse of minors
文法句型
groom + noun phrase (a child / a minor)
groom + noun phrase + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
⚠️ This sense describes serious criminal behaviour and child abuse. Use it with care and awareness of the sensitive topic. The subject (the abuser) is nearly always an adult, and the object (the victim) is a child, teenager, or other vulnerable minor. This meaning is entirely different from all other senses of 'groom' — the learner must be careful not to confuse them.
常見錯誤
6. to make your hair, clothes, or general appearance clean, tidy, and attractive by
to make your hair, clothes, or general appearance clean, tidy, and attractive by checking and adjusting them — for example, smoothing your hair, straightening your tie, or trimming your beard before a meeting
Dylan groomed his beard carefully before the job interview.
collocation: groom + one's beard / hair / moustache
Naoko groomed herself in front of the mirror before leaving the house.
reflexive: groom + oneself
The soldiers were required to groom their uniforms and boots every morning.
Esme groomed her hair into a tidy bun before going to the restaurant.
文法句型
groom + reflexive pronoun
groom + noun phrase (hair / beard / appearance)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (cleaning an animal), this sense applies only to people adjusting their own appearance. It often suggests a deliberate effort to look presentable for an occasion.