Final answer:
In woodworking, a dado is a cut across the grain of wood, and a groove is cut with the grain. Both are used for joining pieces, distinguished by the direction of the cut. The mortise and tenon joint, a separate concept, also joins wood by fitting a tenon into a mortise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms dado and groove refer to different types of cuts used in woodworking. A dado is a cut made across the grain of the wood, often used to fit shelves into a cabinet's side walls. On the other hand, a groove is cut with the grain and is typically used to join pieces of wood together, such as the sides of a drawer.
Another common type of joint used in woodworking is the mortise and tenon joint, which involves a tenon (a projecting point) fitting snugly into a mortise (a hole) to join two pieces of wood. This is a strong joint often used in furniture making. When discussing grooves or dados, it's important to note that woodworking includes a variety of techniques and joints, with these terms representing specific cuts for joining wood.