domino

[dom-uh-noh]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR domino ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dom·i·noes.

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.

dominoes, (used with a singular verb) 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.

Origin of domino

First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps special use of domino²

domino

[dom-uh-noh]

noun, plural dom·i·noes, dom·i·nos.

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

the mask.

a person wearing such dress.

Origin of domino

1710–20; < Italian: hood and mask costume < Medieval Latin or Middle French: black hood worn by priests in winter; obscurely akin to Latin dominus lord

Domino

[dom-uh-noh]

noun

AntoineFats, born 1928, U.S. rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for domino

visor, veil, cloak, camouflage, blind, visage, show, disguise, aspect, pretext, facade, affectation, air, hood, concealment, veneer, semblance, masquerade, screen, pose

Examples from the Web for domino

Contemporary Examples of domino

The lack of food can also domino effect into peace and security—already there have been reports about stolen food aid.
Liberia’s Ebola Famine
Abby Haglage, Nina Strochlic
November 13, 2014
This first session set off a domino effect of unexpected proportions.
China’s Last Foot-Binding Survivors
Nina Strochlic
July 2, 2014
The CVS move will undoubtedly create a domino effect among other pharmacy chains.
The War on Smoking Didn’t Save My Mother’s Life, but It Could Save Many More
Joe Concha
February 5, 2014
And two guests from that weekend getaway later pitched in a small amount to cover costs at the Domino exploration.
A Most Illegal Adventure with New York City’s Wildest Underground Event Planners
Nina Strochlic
December 16, 2013
[Foreign intervention] will have a domino effect that will affect the world from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Syria’s Assad to West: ‘I Am Tougher Than Gaddafi’
Mike Giglio
November 8, 2012

Historical Examples of domino

If you want to enjoy yourself at the ball, take my advice and go in a domino.
The Room in the Dragon Volant
J. Sheridan LeFanu
I was standing near them, and two other masks, both in domino, hovered about.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill
Zenobia's betrothed brought me my domino, and the countess had hers already.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
I thought I should never have done; I had to alter the whole fit of the domino.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Philip sat down on the edge of the domino path to rest and think.
The Magic City
Edith Nesbit

British Dictionary definitions for domino

domino

noun plural -noes

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

(modifier) exhibiting the domino effecta domino pattern of takeovers

Word Origin for domino

C19: from French, from Italian, perhaps from domino! master, said by the winner

domino

noun plural -noes or -nos

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

the eye mask worn with such a cloak

Word Origin for domino

C18: from French or Italian, probably from Latin dominus lord, master

Domino

noun

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)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for domino

1801, from French domino (1771), perhaps (on comparison of the black tiles of the game) from the meaning "hood with a cloak worn by canons or priests" (1690s), from Latin dominus "lord, master" (see domain), but the connection is not clear. Klein thinks it might be directly from dominus, "because he who has first disposed his pieces becomes 'the master.' " Metaphoric use in geopolitics is from April 1954, first used by U.S. President Eisenhower in a "New York Times" piece, in reference to what happens when you set up a row of dominos and knock the first one down.