A domino is a small tile with one or more numbers on each end. The most common set has 28 tiles, from 0 to 6. The word domino comes from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord,” but its origin is obscure. It may have been inspired by the black dominoes used in games of chance, or it could be a reference to a domina, a long hooded cloak worn with a mask.
Dominos have been around for centuries and are still played today in many different countries and cultures. While the exact rules vary, most involve laying tiles on their edge, with adjacent ends matching in value (e.g., a line of one’s touching another, or a sequence of two’s touching three’s). When the lines of one player are complete they have scored a large number of points and win the game.
The process of plotting a novel, whether fiction or nonfiction, is similar to arranging dominoes. Each scene or action is a domino that must connect to the next, in order to drive forward the story and advance the plot. The domino effect allows authors to build tension and reveal characters and their motivations.
Dominos can be used to illustrate a wide variety of concepts, including time and space, cause and effect, probability, and group dynamics. They are also a fun way to teach children about money, counting and math. Whether used for entertainment or learning, dominoes are a useful tool for teachers and parents alike.
While most people know about the game of dominoes, few realize that it has a very interesting history. It is believed that the game first appeared in Italy and France around the mid-18th century, and was introduced to England by French prisoners toward the end of that same period.
Initially, the term domino was applied to any of several games involving placing tiles on their edge. Over the years, however, the name has come to refer specifically to a certain type of game in which players place tiles edge-to-edge so that their adjacent faces match in value. The term has also been applied to other games in which the goal is to create a row of tiles that can be knocked down in succession.
Domino also refers to the act of putting down a series of dominoes in the same pattern, and the way that these dominoes influence each other as they fall. The domino effect is a powerful metaphor for the way that simple actions can have a cascade of effects that impact our daily lives.
A domino is a small rectangular tile with one or more numbers on each end. It is most often white or cream-colored, although it can be made in other colors as well. The most popular size for a domino is 2 inches long, 1 inch wide and 3/8 of an inch thick – a small enough size to hold in the hand and yet large enough to be stood on its edge.