domino
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. Pronunciation
  • (RP) enPR: dŏ'mĭnō, IPA: /ˈdɒmɪnəʊ/
  • (America) enPR: dämĭnō, IPA: /ˈdɑmɪnoʊ/
Noun

domino (plural dominos)

  1. (dominoes) 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. [from c. 1800]
  2. (politics) 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.
    Synonyms: domino costume
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 485:
      all the women were desirous of having the bundle immediately opened; which operation was at length performed by little Betsy, with the consent of Mr Jones: and the contents were found to be a domino, a mask, and a masquerade ticket.
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Masked Ball”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC ↗, page 175 ↗:
      The chair being announced, she fastened on her mask, and drew her domino round her, it not being her intention to display her splendid and fantastic costume till supper, when all the guests were expected to unmask.
  4. The mask itself.
    Synonyms: domino mask, half mask, eyemask
  5. The person wearing the costume.
  6. (geometry) A polyomino made up of two squares.
    Synonyms: 2-omino
  7. (music, colloquial) A mistake in performing.
    • 1932, The Musical Times and Singing-class Circular, page 263:
      Any player is liable to make a 'domino' — that is to say, he goes wool-gathering and continues to play when everyone else has stopped. If he does so at a grown-up concert the fault is irredeemable […]
Related terms Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

domino (third-person singular simple present dominoes, present participle dominoing, simple past and past participle dominoed)

  1. (intransitive) To collapse in the manner of dominoes.
  2. (transitive) To cause to collapse in the manner of dominoes.



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