A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with a surface marked by dots resembling those on dice. It is usually used as a gaming object, although it has many other uses as well. The word is derived from the Latin dominus, meaning master or supreme. It became the English word domino shortly after 1750. The word has also been adapted to describe a type of monastic hood and a costume consisting of a hood with an eye mask worn at a masquerade.
In a game of dominoes, players place tiles on a table in a row or on a grid. They then place a domino of their choice on top, and the other tiles fall down in an orderly fashion, resulting in a completed pattern or picture. Domino games can be as simple or as complex as desired. They can be played solo or in teams, and they can also be used to teach basic math concepts.
One of the best-known ways to play dominoes is with a set of numbered tiles called boneyard. A player begins with a single tile and fills in any gaps with other matching pieces from the boneyard. The goal is to complete a line of dominoes that ends in a number that can be counted. Blocking games like matador, chicken foot, and Mexican train are other popular types of dominoes. In addition, some domino games are adaptations of card games and were once played to circumvent religious proscriptions against playing cards.
Unlike cards, which have a fixed number of possible combinations of ends and suits, each domino in a standard set has a unique identity on its face. It is identified by a pattern of spots or numbers, known as pips, that differ from those on a die. A domino set generally consists of 28 tiles, but some sets have more than this number.
Some domino sets are extended by introducing ends with more pips, creating more possibilities for matching tiles. The most common extensions have double-nine, double-12, and double-18 ends. In addition, some large domino sets use Arabic numerals instead of pips to make the pieces easier to identify.
A common extension of the basic game involves placing a set of tiles in a matrix to represent a certain figure or pattern. The matrix can be used to solve arithmetic problems or to create patterns for a game to be played.
In a story, domino effect occurs when a character’s actions cause the events of the story to happen in a sequence that is controlled by an overarching principle or theme. This principle or theme can be as simple as an ethical code of conduct or a moral philosophy.
The phrase domino is also often used as a metaphor for an event or series of events that have a great impact on a person, community, or organization. In a business setting, it can refer to an overarching strategy that reaches from top to bottom and influences every aspect of the organization.