1. Activity leading to skilled behaviour
   "The heir apparent received grooming for leadership from an early age";
   - training, preparation
    
2. The activity of getting dressed; putting on clothes
   "His morning grooming routine took nearly an hour";
   - dressing
    
3. The process of arranging or treating hair to achieve a desired look or shape
   "Her grooming for the event took over an hour";
   - styling
    
4. The act of building a relationship with a minor with the intent of sexual abuse
   "The police investigated online grooming activities targeting vulnerable teenagers"

1. Care for one's external appearance
   "He is always well-groomed";
   - neaten
    
2. Give a neat appearance to
   "groom the dogs";
   - dress, curry
    
3. Educate for a future role or function
   "He is grooming his son to become his successor";
   - prepare, train
    
4. Manipulate and prepare (someone) psychologically for exploitation, especially sexual abuse
   "The predator was grooming young victims online"; "Criminals groom vulnerable people for fraud"

Derived forms: groomings

Type of: activity, beautify, covering, educate, fancify, prettify

Encyclopedia: Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language