English Explanatory Dictionary

domino

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A tile divided into two squares, each having 0 to 6 (or sometimes more) dots or pips (as in dice), used in the game of dominoes.
  2. A country that is expected to react to events in a neighboring country, according to the domino effect.
  3. A masquerade costume consisting of a hooded robe and a mask covering the upper part of the face.
  4. The mask itself.
  5. The person wearing the costume.
  6. A polyomino made up of two squares.
  7. A mistake in performing.
  8. A person's teeth.
verb
  1. To collapse in the manner of dominoes.
  2. To cause to collapse in the manner of dominoes.

Pronunciation

dŏm′mĭnō /ˈdɒmɪnəʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-domino.wav dŏ′mənō′ /ˈdɑməˌnoʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-domino.wav

Word forms

domino dominos dominoes dominoing dominoed

Etymology

1801, borrowed from French domino (1771), originally the term for a hooded garment, itself from Medieval Latin domino, oblique case of dominus (“lord, master”); compare Medieval Latin dominicale (“a kind of veil”). By surface analysis, di- + -omino.

Synonyms

domino costume domino mask half mask eyemask 2-omino

Related words

dominate a non domino pro domino

Derived words

domino computer domino effect dominoes Dominoid dominolike domino surgery domino theory domino whist galloping domino polyomino triomino
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