# domino

/ˈdɑməˌnoʊ/ (US) · /dˈɒmɪnˌəʊ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/domino
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a small, flat, rectangular block used in a game. Each piece has two halves, usually marked with a certain number of dots.

For teachers: a small rectangular tile used in gaming, typically divided into two square faces each marked with a number of pips or left blank.

## Examples

- He placed the last domino on the table to win the game.
- The children spent the afternoon lining up every domino in the box to create a long chain they could knock over.
- The collapse of the regional bank triggered a domino effect, causing investors to withdraw capital from similar institutions and threatening the stability of the entire financial sector.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the compound noun 'domino effect' to describe a cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.