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Grooming: Definition, Examples, and Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：Personal care (Grooming)

Grooming 🔊

/ˈɡruːmɪŋ/

The things you do to keep yourself clean and tidy, like brushing your hair or taking care of your skin, so you look neat and presentable.

Personal care 🔊

➕

/ˈpɜːrsənl kɛr/

The practice of keeping oneself clean and tidy, including brushing hair, caring for skin, and maintaining a neat appearance.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Middle English 'grome' (male servant), whose duties included caring for horses and appearance.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a groom brushing his hair before a wedding; then picture a pet salon. Both involve 'grooming' to look clean and neat.

📖 Example

He spent a lot of time on grooming before the important job interview. 🔊 He spent a lot of time on grooming before the important job interview.

🔗 Collocations

personal grooming – the act of cleaning and maintaining one's own appearance

grooming routine – a regular set of steps for personal hygiene

grooming products – items like shampoo, lotion, and brushes used for personal care

🔄 Synonyms

preening (n.) – the act of making oneself neat and attractive, often with excessive care

primping (n.) – spending time making small adjustments to one's appearance

tidying up (phr.) – making oneself clean and orderly

🚫 Antonyms

unkemptness (n.) – the state of being messy or not cared for

neglect (n.) – lack of proper care and attention to one's appearance

🌱 Derivatives

groom (v.) – to make oneself clean and tidy

groomed (adj.) – neat and well-cared for (appearance)

groomer (n.) – a person who does grooming (especially for animals)

📖 Cultural Story

Originally referred to a servant's horse-care duties. By the 19th century, it expanded to personal hygiene (e.g., 'grooming oneself') and later to professional pet care, now a multi-billion industry.

Meaning 2：Pet grooming (Grooming)

Grooming 🔊

/ˈɡruːmɪŋ/

Cleaning and brushing an animal's fur or hair, often done for pets to keep them healthy and looking nice.

Pet grooming 🔊

➕

/pɛt ˈɡruːmɪŋ/

The process of cleaning, brushing, and trimming an animal's fur, nails, or hair to maintain its health and appearance, often performed by professionals.

📁 Category：Animal Protection 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Regular grooming at the pet salon helps keep your dog's coat shiny and free of mats. 🔊 Regular grooming at the pet salon helps keep your dog's coat shiny and free of mats.

🔗 Collocations

dog grooming – care and cleaning of a dog's fur, nails, and ears

cat grooming – brushing and bathing a cat to reduce shedding and hairballs

grooming tools – brushes, combs, clippers, and shampoos used for animal care

🔄 Synonyms

brushing (n.) – the act of using a brush to remove loose hair and tangles

bathing (n.) – washing an animal's coat with water and shampoo

trimming (n.) – cutting excess fur or nails for neatness and health

🚫 Antonyms

neglect (n.) – failure to provide proper care for an animal's coat or hygiene

matting (n.) – tangled, clumped fur due to lack of grooming

🌱 Derivatives

groom (v.) – to brush and clean an animal's fur

groomer (n.) – a professional who provides grooming services for pets

groomed (adj.) – having a well-maintained coat (for animals)