**groan**
**groan²** *n* a sound of suffering, worry, complaint, or disapproval, which is made in a deep voice: *There were loud groans from the boys when the girls started to win. | groans of disappointment/despair/pain |* (fig.) *The old chair gave a groan when the fat woman sat down on it.*
**groat** /grəut/ *n* a former British coin of low value
**groats** /grəuts/ *n* [P] grain, especially oats from which the outer shell has been removed, and which may also have been broken into pieces
**gro·bag, growbag** /'grəubæg/ *n* a large plastic bag containing specially prepared earth for growing vegetables, e.g. tomatoes
**gro·cer** /'grəυsəʳ/ *n* a person who owns or works in a shop (**grocer's**) which sells dry and preserved foods, like flour, coffee, sugar, rice, and other things for the home, such as matches and soap: *I bought some flour at the grocer's (shop).* $\rightarrow$ compare GREENGROCER
**gro·cer·ies** /'grəυsəriz/ *n* [P] the goods sold by a grocer or a SUPERMARKET: *She put the box of groceries in the car.*
**gro·cer·y** /'grəυsəri/ *n* **1** [C] also **grocery store** *AmE* — the shop of a grocer: *The nearest grocery is in Smith St.* **2** [U] the trade of a grocer: *a grocery business*
**gro·dy** /'grəυdi/ *adj AmE slang* very unpleasant or offensive
**grog** /grɒg||grɑ:g/ *n* [U] **1** a mixture of strong drink (especially RUM) and water, especially as drunk by sailors **2** *infml, especially AustrE* any alcoholic drink
**grog·gy** /'grɒgi||'grɑ:gi/ *adj infml* weak because of illness, shock, tiredness etc, and often unable to walk steadily: *I felt a bit groggy after 15 hours on the plane.* —**gilly** *adv*
**groin** /grɔɪn/ *n* **1 a)** the hollow place where the tops of the legs meet the front of the body **b)** *euph* the male sex organs: *a kick in the groin* **2** a GROYNE
**groom¹** /gru:m, grυm/ *n* **1** someone who is in charge of feeding, cleaning, and taking care of horses **2** a BRIDEGROOM
**groom²** *v* **1** [T] to take care of (horses), especially by rubbing, brushing, and cleaning them **2** [T] to take care of the appearance of (oneself), by dressing neatly, keeping the hair tidy etc: *He always looks very well-groomed.* **3** [T] (of an animal) to clean the fur and skin of (itself or another animal): *Monkeys groom each other.* **4** [T(for)] to prepare (someone) for a special position or occasion: *They were grooming her for stardom. (=to play big parts in plays or films)* | [+*to-v*] *She's being groomed to take over the chairman's job when he retires.*
**groove** /gru:v/ *n* **1** a long narrow usually regular path or track made in a surface, especially to guide the movement of something: *The needle is stuck in the groove of the record, so it keeps repeating the same bit of music. | The door fits into this metal groove and slides shut.* **2** a track made by repeated movement; RUT: (fig.) *My parents don't like change; they're happy to stay in the same old groove.*
**grooved** /gru:vd/ *adj* having grooves
**groov·y** /'gru:vi/ *adj old-fash slang* attractive or interesting; fashionably modern. This word is connected especially with the 1960s, when it was a very popular, fashionable word.
**grope¹** /grəυp/ *v* **1** [I+adv/prep, especially for] to try to find something by feeling with the hands in a place one cannot see (properly): *He groped (about) in his pocket for his ticket.* | (fig.) *She groped for the right word.* | (fig.) *The two sides are groping towards an agreement.* **2** [T+obj+adv/prep] to make (one's way) by feeling with outstretched hands (as if) in the dark: *I groped my way to a seat in the dark cinema.* **3** [T] *derog slang* to (try to) feel over the body of (a person, usually a woman) so as to get sexual pleasure
**grope²** *n* an act of groping
**gross¹** /grəυs/ *adj* **1** [A no comp.] total: *my gross income, before taxes are deducted | The gross weight of the box of chocolates is more than the weight of the chocolates alone.* $\rightarrow$ compare NET³ **2** [A] *fml* clearly wrong; inexcusable: *The court found the doctor guilty of gross negligence. | It was an act of the grossest insolence. | gross inequalities* **3** (especially of people's speech and habits) rough, impolite, and offensive; COARSE: *She was shocked by his gross behaviour at the party.* **4** unpleasantly fat: *He's become really gross in old age.* **5** *infml, especially AmE* very unpleasant or offensive —**-ly** *adv* —**-ness** *n* [U]
**gross²** *v* [T] to gain as total profit or earn as a total amount: *The film grossed over $15 million.*
**gross³** *determiner, n pl. gross* or **grosses** a group of 144; 12 DOZEN: *The shopkeeper ordered ten gross of candles.*
**ˌgross doˌmestic ˈproduct** *n* GDP
**Gross·man, Loyd** /'grəυsmən, lɔɪd/ (1950-) an American television PRESENTER and JOURNALIST who is known for his strong Boston ACCENT and for PRESENTING British television shows about cooking and about the homes of famous people. He also sells his own range of PASTA sauces.
**ˌgross ˈmargin** also **gross profit** *n* the difference between what something costs to produce and what it is sold for
**ˌgross ˌnational ˈproduct** *n* GNP
**ˌgross ˈprofit** *n* $\rightarrow$ see GROSS MARGIN
**ˌgross reˈceipts** *n* [P] the total amount of money received before any costs are taken off
**gro·tesque¹** /grəυ'tesk/ *adj* strange and unnatural so as to cause fear, disbelief, or amusement; OUTLANDISH: *grotesque paintings of two-headed animals with fangs and staring eyes | The fat old man looked grotesque in his tight trousers. | Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.* —**-ly** *adv* —**-ness** *n* [U]
**grotesque²** *n* [C; the S] (a picture or object showing) grotesque qualities: *Hieronymus Bosch was a master of the grotesque in painting.*
**grot·to** /'grɒtəυ||'grɑ:t-/ *n pl.* **-toes** or **-tos 1** a natural CAVE especially of LIMESTONE or a man-made one set in a garden and often decorated with shells **2** a small place for religious worship in the shape of a CAVE
**grot·ty** /'grɒti||'grɑ:ti/ *adj BrE infml* bad, nasty, unpleasant etc: *She lives in a grotty little room with nowhere to cook.* —**-tiness** *n* [U]
**grouch¹** /graυtʃ/ *n infml* **1** [C usually sing.] a bad-tempered complaint: *She's always got a grouch about something; if it's not the weather, it's the cost of living.* **2** a person who keeps complaining: *Quit being a grouch!* —**grouchy** *adj* —**-iness** *n* [U]
**grouch²** *v* [I] *infml* to complain in a bad-tempered way; GRUMBLE
**Grou·cho Club, the** /'graυtʃəυ klʌb/ a fashionable club in London for people connected with the theatre and the arts
**ground¹** /graυnd/ *n* **1** [(the) U] the surface of the earth: *The branch broke and fell to the ground. | The injured man was lying on the ground. | high ground | They built a bomb shelter below ground. | Moles seldom come above ground.* $\rightarrow$ compare FLOOR¹; see also UNDERGROUND **2** [U] soil; earth: *The ground is dry/frozen.* $\rightarrow$ see LAND (USAGE) **3** [C] (usually in comb.) a piece of land used for a particular purpose: *soldiers marching on a parade ground | a football ground* $\rightarrow$ see also PLAYGROUND **4** [U] the bottom of the sea or the shore: *Our ship touched ground.* **5** [C] **a)** the colour on which a pattern is placed; background: *The curtains have white flowers on a blue ground.* **b)** the first covering of paint on a painting **6** [U] **a)** an area of knowledge, study, or experience: *It was absurd to try to cover so much ground (=talk about so much) in such a short lecture. | The book says nothing new – it just goes over the same old ground. | I'm on fairly familiar ground here because I've had a lot of experience with computers.* **b)** a base for argument: *You'll be on safe ground as long as you avoid the subject of politics. | You're on dangerous ground if you mention pop music to him – he hates it. | Just when I thought I had won the argument she shifted her ground and put forward a whole new set of objections.* **7** [U] a position of advantage to be won or defended: *The army lost ground/was forced to give ground when the enemy started its new offensive. | This big contract will help us to gain ground on (=get closer to in success) our competitors. | The president has lost a lot of ground in the popularity polls. | The idea of equal pay for women is gaining ground. (=gradually becoming accepted)* **8** [C] *especially AmE* for EARTH **9 into the ground** beyond what is sensible or necessary, especially so as to be very tired: *Don't work so hard; you're driving yourself into the ground.* **10 off the ground** successfully started: *Lack of money meant we couldn't even get the plan off the ground/the plan didn't even get off the ground.* **11 on the ground** at the