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noun Uncommon

domino

DO-mih-noh
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Domino (noun) means a small rectangular tile marked with dots, used in the game of dominoes. Example: “He set the last domino down with a satisfied grin.”

noun
1
A small rectangular tile marked with dots, used in the game of dominoes.
"If a domino had four squares on its surface, it would be a tetromino. With five squares, it would be a pentomino—nine, a nonomino, eleven, an unwieldy undecomino!" — Maki Kaji, The Big Book of Visual Sudoku (2011)
"He set the last domino down with a satisfied grin."
2
A masquerade costume made up of a hooded cloak and a mask covering the upper face.
"Then he hunted for the black carnival domino, supposing that it was the appropriate thing for a penitent to wear." — Lawrence Durrell, Sebastian (Avignon Quintet) (1983)
"Guests at the masquerade arrived in dominoes of black silk."

How to use domino

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often the small tile used in the tile-matching game, though it can also mean a masked costume.

Common pairings
domino effect set of dominoes stand up dominoes
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Word forms

Plural
dominos, dominoes
Third person singular
dominoes
Past tense
dominoed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He set the last _____ down with a satisfied grin.

Etymology

Borrowed from French domino, originally meaning a hooded garment worn by priests, ultimately from Latin dominus, "lord."

Origin: Latin

eye mask half mask

Rhymes for domino

See all rhymes for domino →

Frequently asked questions

What does “domino” mean?
The word “domino” means a small rectangular tile marked with dots, used in the game of dominoes. In plain terms, most often the small tile used in the tile-matching game, though it can also mean a masked costume.
How do you pronounce “domino”?
“Domino” is pronounced DO-mih-noh (/ˈdɑməˌnoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “domino” in a sentence?
Here is “domino” used in a sentence: “He set the last domino down with a satisfied grin.”
What part of speech is “domino”?
“Domino” is a noun.
Where does the word “domino” come from?
The word “domino” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French domino, originally meaning a hooded garment worn by priests, ultimately from Latin dominus, "lord.".
Is “domino” a common word?
“Domino” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “domino” have?
“Domino” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small rectangular tile marked with dots, used in the game of dominoes.

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