From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
groom
n 1: a man participant in his own marriage ceremony [syn:
bridegroom]
2: someone employed in a stable to take care of the horses
[syn: stableman, stableboy, hostler, ostler]
3: a man who has recently been married [syn: bridegroom]
v 1: prepare (someone) for a future role or function; "He is
grooming his son to become his successor"; "The prince
was prepared to become King one day"; "They trained him
to be a warrior" [syn: prepare, train]
2: give a neat appearance to; "groom the dogs"; "dress the
horses" [syn: dress, curry]
3: care for one's external appearance; "He is always
well-groomed" [syn: neaten]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Groom \Groom\, n. [Cf. Scot. grome, groyme, grume, gome, guym,
man, lover, OD. grom boy, youth; perh. the r is an insertion
as in E. bridegroom, and the word is the same as AS. guma
man. See Bridegroom.]
1. A boy or young man; a waiter; a servant; especially, a man
or boy who has charge of horses, or the stable. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
2. One of several officers of the English royal household,
chiefly in the lord chamberlain's department; as, the
groom of the chamber; the groom of the stole.
[1913 Webster]
3. A man recently married, or about to be married; a
bridegroom. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Groom porter, formerly an officer in the English royal
household, who attended to the furnishing of the king's
lodgings and had certain privileges.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Groom \Groom\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Groomed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Grooming.]
To tend or care for, or to curry or clean, as a, horse.
[1913 Webster]