A domino is a small rectangular block with two groups of spots on one side. It is used to play a number of games.

In some cases, the word domino is used as an adjective meaning “a series of events that cause something else to happen.” For example, you might hear someone say, “She fell over a domino and broke her leg.” In other cases, it is used to describe a particular type of game. The word can refer to a variety of different games, including poker, backgammon and cribbage. It can also be used as a verb, meaning to place or set up domino pieces.

A person who sets up domino pieces in a line or pattern is said to be creating domino art. The art can be as simple or elaborate as the creator wants it to be. Some people set out to make straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. The art can be created on a flat surface, such as a table, or it can be made on a more permanent substrate such as plaster, concrete or brick.

Domino art can be a great way to relax or entertain friends and family members. It is also a wonderful opportunity for children to express their creativity.

Some people create domino art for sale or as gifts. Others create it to display in their home. There are a variety of ways to create domino art, such as painting, drawing, and stamping. Some people even build structures out of dominoes and use them as sculptures.

Normally, dominoes are played in a line with one player playing each turn. The first player to place a tile on the domino chain is said to “kick off” the game. Then each player plays a tile, positioning it so that it touches the end of a previously placed domino. In most games, players cannot place a tile that shows the same number as another domino in the chain. If a player does this, he or she is said to have “stitched up the ends.”

The words Domino and Domino’s come from the Latin domino, which meant “flipper,” probably in reference to the fact that domino pieces were once made of ebony blacks and ivory whites—reminiscent of the priest’s flippers worn over his surplice. Domino also has an earlier sense referring to a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade.

When a player is unable to play a tile, he or she knocks the table and passes play to the other player. The players then draw a domino from the stock and play that domino. Occasionally, players may also bye (draw a number of tiles that they are able to play). If the tile drawn is a double, it must be played lengthwise; otherwise, it must be played crosswise, unless the game calls for a domino to be played across a spinner.