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• domino
  domino

  noun

  a flat, thumbsized, rectangular block, the face of which is divided into two parts, each either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such pieces form a complete set.
• Domino
  Domino

  noun

  Antoine Fats, 1928–2017, U.S. rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer.

domino

¹ American  

[dom-uh-noh] / ˈdɒm əˌnoʊ /

noun

• dominoes
  plural

1. a flat, thumbsized, rectangular block, the face of which is divided into two parts, each either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such pieces form a complete set.

2. (used with a singular verb) dominoes, any of various games played with such pieces, usually by matching the ends of pieces and laying the dominoes down in lines and angular patterns.

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domino ² American  

[dom-uh-noh] / ˈdɒm əˌnoʊ /

noun

• dominoes,
  plural
• dominos
  plural

1. a large, hooded cloak with a mask covering the eyes, worn at masquerades.

2. the mask.

3. a person wearing such dress.

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Domino ³ American  

[dom-uh-noh] / ˈdɒm əˌnoʊ /

noun

1. Antoine Fats, 1928–2017, U.S. rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer.

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domino ¹ British  

/ ˈdɒmɪˌnəʊ /

noun

1. a small rectangular block used in dominoes, divided on one side into two equal areas, each of which is either blank or marked with from one to six dots

2. (modifier) exhibiting the domino effect

   a domino pattern of takeovers

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domino ² British  

/ ˈdɒmɪˌnəʊ /

noun

1. a large hooded cloak worn with an eye mask at a masquerade

2. the eye mask worn with such a cloak

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Domino ³ British  

/ ˈdɒmɪnəʊ /

noun

1. Fats. real name Antoine Domino born 1928, US rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll pianist, singer, and songwriter. His singles include "Ain't that a Shame" (1955) and "Blueberry Hill" (1956)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dominoes
  plural
• dominos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of domino¹

First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps special use of domino ²

Origin of domino²

First recorded in 1710–20; from Italian: “hood and mask costume,” from Medieval Latin or Middle French: “black hood worn by priests in winter”; obscurely akin to Latin dominus “lord, master”

Explanation

A domino is a small rectangular block used in the game dominoes. Each block has anywhere from 0 to 6 dots. A domino is a small, black rectangular game piece with white dots. In the game called dominoes, sides of the dominoes with equal numbers are matched. Dominoes are also stood up to create elaborate patterns that look pretty impressive when they’re knocked down. If you set them up right, knocking down the first domino will knock down hundreds and even thousands of others. This use of dominoes inspired the domino effect, when one action inevitably causes others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

domino Domino dominoes dominos

In 2006, home prices stopped rising at a rate that allowed overleveraged borrowers to refinance, which led to a domino effect and the crisis, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Speaking to the social club, it became apparent John was a regular - on one occasion being communicative enough to sell domino cards to another person, all captured on CCTV.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

Thomas worries about the domino effect this oil crunch will have on everything else he buys, as the rising cost of transport pushes up the prices of everyday goods like food and clothing.

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

“We have known for decades that once you have one disc surgery, the chances of having another are substantially higher, especially if you use the fusion technique like Tiger. It’s a domino effect.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

Old men brought out their faded suit jackets and moved their domino games inside.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

He has since repurposed the old Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn, among other notable projects, and is prone to using words like “horizontality.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

The star, now 83, was ignored by the Rock Hall for years, even as contemporaries like Sam Cooke, Bill Haley, Wilson Pickett and Fats Domino were admitted.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2025

“I like the Fats Domino rhythm, but I play my own chords and my own style.”

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

Domino reactions occur when the transformation of one chemical group stimulates the reaction of another attached group, or other molecule, leading to a rapid knock-on effect through the system like a row of falling dominoes.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2024

According to the Domino Theory, which dominated American foreign policy during the Cold War, countries were like dominos standing on end.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Family, friends and neighbors filled the frames with dancing and dominoes; their apartments painted in shades of mint, butter yellow and palomino pink, flecked with a patina cultivated by humidity and time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

If they slow the pace of their capital spending, construction contractors with comparatively weak balance sheets could feel the pain quickly, among other financial dominoes ready to fall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Neighbors sat at plastic tables on the sidewalk, playing dominoes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

Imagine setting up an elaborate chain of dominoes, where each piece must strike the next in perfect sequence to create a satisfying final outcome.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 6, 2026

He plunged into his work again, but he kept up the custom of playing dominoes with his father-in-law.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

While the dominos are falling at the parent company, these will fall short of triggering a collapse.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2024

"We hope, via the model, we can simulate this chain reaction to understand how to stop it, like a hand in between the dominos tiles," says Sansavini.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2023

All-time temperature records fell like dominos throughout the region.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 11, 2023

There are a lot of dominos still to fall, but Harris’ track record across two major North American franchises offers insight into how the Commanders might operate differently under someone other than Dan Snyder.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 18, 2023

According to the Domino Theory, which dominated American foreign policy during the Cold War, countries were like dominos standing on end.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• camouflage
• cloak
• veil