WordGarden.iogroin
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡrˈɔɪn/
US
- /ˈɡrɔɪn/
Meanings
Noun
the area where the lower abdomen meets the upper inner thigh
a low wall or barrier built out from a shore to reduce erosion
the curved edge where two vaults meet in architecture
Beyond the definition
The groin is the area where the lower part of your belly meets the top of your thighs. People often think of it as the inner upper thigh area near the genitals, so it is usually treated as a private or sensitive part of the body. You might hear about someone who "pulled a groin muscle" while running, kicking, or turning quickly, or a doctor might examine the groin to check for pain, swelling, or enlarged glands during a physical exam.
The word "groin" describes the part of the body where the lower abdomen meets the upper thigh on either side of the body. In everyday English, people often use it for the inner top thigh area near the genitals and pubic region. It is an important area in movement because muscles and tendons around it help the legs move, especially during running, kicking, twisting, or sudden changes of direction.
Because it is close to the genitals, the term is sometimes used carefully in conversation. Still, it is a common and important word in sports, medicine, and everyday talk about the body. Athletes often suffer "groin pulls," which are painful strains in this area, usually caused by stretching too far or moving too suddenly. In a medical setting, a doctor may also check the groin for tenderness, swelling, a hernia, or enlarged lymph nodes.
The word has also been used in other fields, such as architecture, where it can describe a place where curved surfaces meet, but for most learners the body meaning is by far the most important one. Whether you hear it in a doctor’s office, in a sports report, or in everyday conversation after an injury, it refers to that sensitive meeting point between the lower body and the thigh.
Examples
- 1
Sports pain
He felt a sharp pain in his groin after the game.
- 2
Medical exam
The doctor checked for swelling in her groin.
- 3
Football injury
The striker pulled his groin and had to come off at halftime.
- Phrasepull your groin
injure the muscles in that area
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- groinnounverb
Forms
- groinspluralnounverb