A small rectangular block, the face of which is blank or marked by a pattern resembling those on dice, used for playing games. Also called dominoes or simply domino.
Dominoes are a fun, addictive family game that’s perfect for families with children of all ages. With just a few basic rules, you’ll be amazed at how many different games can be played. The domino game’s popularity has even inspired a few popular TV shows, like “The Game Show” and the movie “Domino.”
Like playing cards (of which they are a variant), the identity-bearing faces of dominoes are divided into two squares, or ends, each with an arrangement of spots, or pips, similar to those on a die. Each pips has a particular value, which determines the order in which the domino is played and sometimes its rank or weight.
The word domino first appeared in English shortly after 1750, probably from French, where it had earlier denoted a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask at a carnival or masquerade. It may therefore be linked with the domino game, which arrived in Britain around that time from France and was a popular fad at the time.
In some games, one player picks up all the tiles on the table before anyone else can play them. The other players then try to make a line of matched pieces, either horizontally or vertically. Eventually, one or more of the partners will win a round of the game by being the first to fill their remaining tiles with pips.
There are many types of domino games, from simple blocking and scoring ones to complex arithmetic puzzles. In general, a domino is considered to match with another tile if its pips are identical. A piece with no pips is sometimes called a wild card.
In a political context, the domino effect refers to a series of events that would spread from one country to another like falling dominoes if not stopped. President Dwight Eisenhower cited this concept when explaining America’s decision to offer aid to South Vietnam in 1954. The phrase has since expanded to include any situation in which one event starts a chain reaction that could continue for a long period of time.
Although it is possible to build a set of dominoes out of wood or other materials, it’s generally more cost-effective to buy premade domino sets. One of the best-known manufacturers of such products is Gibson, which sells a variety of wooden and plastic domino sets in sizes ranging from double-twelve to double-nine. In the latter case, four players would each choose 12 tiles to start the game.