4 VERB If wood or something made of wood groans , it makes a loud sound when it moves. □ [V ] The timbers groan and creak and the floorboards shift.
5 VERB If you say that something such as a table groans under the weight of food, you are emphasizing that there is a lot of food on it. [EMPHASIS ] □ [V + under/with ] The bar counter groans under the weight of huge plates of the freshest fish. □ [V -ing] …a table groaning with food.
6 VERB [usu cont] If you say that someone or something is groaning under the weight of something, you think there is too much of that thing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + under ] Consumers were groaning under the weight of high interest rates.
gro|cer /groʊ sə r / (grocers )
1 N‑COUNT A grocer is a shopkeeper who sells foods such as flour, sugar, and tinned foods.
2 N‑COUNT A grocer or a grocer's is a shop where foods such as flour, sugar, and tinned foods are sold. [mainly BRIT ]
gro|cery /groʊ səri/ (groceries )
1 N‑COUNT A grocery or a grocery store is a grocer's shop. [mainly AM ]
2 N‑PLURAL Groceries are foods you buy at a grocer's or at a supermarket such as flour, sugar, and tinned foods.
grog /grɒ g/ N‑VAR Grog is a drink made by mixing a strong spirit, such as rum or whisky, with water.
grog|gy /grɒ gi/ (groggier , groggiest ) ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you feel groggy , you feel weak and rather ill. [INFORMAL ] □ She was feeling a bit groggy when I saw her.
groin /grɔ I n/ (groins ) N‑COUNT Your groin is the front part of your body between your legs.
groom /gruː m/ (grooms , grooming , groomed )
1 N‑COUNT A groom is the same as a bridegroom . □ …the bride and groom.
2 N‑COUNT A groom is someone whose job is to look after the horses in a stable and to keep them clean.
3 VERB If you groom an animal, you clean its fur, usually by brushing it. □ [V n] The horses were exercised and groomed with special care.
4 VERB [usu passive] If you are groomed for a special job, someone prepares you for it by teaching you the skills you will need. □ [be V -ed + for ] George was already being groomed for the top job. □ [be V -ed to-inf] Marshall was groomed to run the family companies.
groomed /gruː md/ ADJ [usu adv ADJ ] You use groomed in expressions such as well groomed and badly groomed to say how neat, clean, and smart a person is. □ …a very well groomed man. □ She always appeared perfectly groomed.
groom|ing /gruː m I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Grooming refers to the things that people do to keep themselves clean and make their face, hair, and skin look nice. □ …a growing concern for personal grooming.
groove /gruː v/ (grooves ) N‑COUNT A groove is a deep line cut into a surface. □ Their wheels left grooves in the ground.
grooved /gruː vd/ ADJ Something that is grooved has grooves on its surface. □ The inscriptions are fresh and deep-grooved.
groovy /gruː vi/ (groovier , grooviest ) ADJ If you describe something as groovy , you mean that it is attractive, fashionable, or exciting. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …the grooviest club in London.
grope /groʊ p/ (gropes , groping , groped )
1 VERB If you grope for something that you cannot see, you try to find it by moving your hands around in order to feel it. □ [V + for ] With his left hand he groped for the knob, turned it, and pulled the door open. □ [V adv/prep] Bunbury groped in his breast pocket for his wallet.
2 VERB If you grope your way to a place, you move there, holding your hands in front of you and feeling the way because you cannot see anything. □ [V n prep/adv] I didn't turn on the light, but groped my way across the room.
3 VERB If you grope for something, for example the solution to a problem, you try to think of it, when you have no real idea what it could be. □ [V + for ] She groped for a simple word to express a simple idea. [Also V + towards ] ● grop|ing (gropings ) N‑VAR □ They continue their groping towards a constitutional settlement.
4 VERB If one person gropes another, they touch or take hold of them in a rough, sexual way. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] He would try to grope her breasts and put his hand up her skirt. ● N‑COUNT Grope is also a noun. □ She even boasted of having a grope in a cupboard with a 13-year-old.
gross ◆◇◇ /groʊ s/ (grosser , grossest , grosses , grossing , grossed ) The plural of the number is gross . 1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use gross to describe something unacceptable or unpleasant to a very great amount, degree, or intensity. □ The company were guilty of gross negligence. □ …an act of gross injustice. ● gross|ly ADV [ADV -ed/adj] □ Funding of education had been grossly inadequate for years. □ She was grossly overweight.
2 ADJ If you say that someone's speech or behaviour is gross , you think it is very rude or unacceptable. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He abused the Admiral in the grossest terms. □ I feel disgusted and wonder how I could ever have been so gross.