A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic with a surface divided into halves marked by dots that resemble those on dice. The number of dots on each half varies, as do the different designs and games that can be played with them. The term can also refer to a chain of events, such as a political crisis, that is expected to lead to others.
In the game of domino, players place one tile on a table positioning it so that it touches an end of a long snake-line of tiles that gradually increases in length. Each time a new tile is played, the ends of the chain must show matching numbers. If a player places a tile so that the two ends of the chain show identical numbers, the player has “stitched up” the ends and gains an advantage.
Domino art is a style of painting and drawing that involves using stickers, paper or canvas, glue, paint, markers, crayons, and pencils to create geometric patterns and pictures with the dominoes as the main focus of the artwork. The artist may use straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when the dominoes fall, stacked walls, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. The artist can choose a theme for the artwork and calculate how many dominoes are needed to complete it.
Domino has also become a name brand for a line of pizza, founded in 1983. The chain is well known for its fast delivery and specialized pizza, such as the domino pepperoni, which uses a combination of toppings that are not usually found on other pizzas. Domino’s also offers an array of appetizers and side dishes.
For writers, a domino effect can be a way to explain the logic of your story. For example, if your hero does something immoral, such as shoot a stranger or have an affair, you must provide the reader with enough motivation and logic to give them permission to forgive the character for going against social norms.
Similarly, when a domino is a symbol of success, it can be used as an ad slogan or logo. It can also be a way to emphasize the importance of a certain event or activity. For example, a company might use a domino advertisement to emphasize the success of its first product launch or to highlight a specific milestone reached by the business.
As a word, the meaning of domino has evolved significantly over the years. In the early days of the word, it meant simply a piece of a game that is placed on its edge to trigger another piece to fall and start a chain reaction. Today, however, the word is more commonly associated with a system of power or control that has been established in a region or country. The domino theory explains how one event can have a significant impact on other events in the same region or country.