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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

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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”

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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

"Now, in the Amazon, we're seeing the second domino in the cascade fall," Morton said, referring to the increasing number of fires in the Brazilian states of Pará and Amazonas.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

“Previous experience shows that once a country introduces restrictions there is a domino effect and that could fuel inflationary pressures,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

He says that balance is “100% a predictor of longevity” partly because it initiates a domino effect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

There is the intermittent purr of generators, dogs barking, and, from time to time, the dry clack of domino tiles echoing in the street.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

If just one of them moved, I thought, the domino effect could engulf the three of us in an asphyxiating mass of literature.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

The landmark Domino Sugar factory was gut-renovated and now serves as offices for over 30 A.I. and tech firms.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

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 British star, also known for hits such as Domino, said she knew she had been "a little different and felt things differently" her whole life.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2024

Other 2024 festival highlights included Jon Batiste’s only-in-New-Orleans set that paid homage to the city’s piano legends, including Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2024

Manny the Domino King peered at Sierra across the game table in the Junklot.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

With frequent power cuts transforming Havana into a ghost town, young Cubans are struggling to get their kicks, many resorting to games of dominoes with strangers to pass the time.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

"When emergency surgery goes, other dominoes fall following that," she said.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

With Andy Burnham hopeful of finding his way back to parliament in a matter of days at the Makerfield by-election, those dominoes may indeed, be about to fall.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Nearby, their husbands and friends sat around a table playing dominoes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Jorge’s mother and his sister played dominoes in the dining room until late, delaying Celia’s sleep, her only solace.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

"It's an absolute mess, especially when there's wind and the barriers collapse like dominos, creating even more risk," he added.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2025

"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

The dominos have fallen for Domino’s Pizza in Italy.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 10, 2022

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

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