Domino is the term for a flat thumbsized, rectangular block that has one side blank and the other bearing from one to six pips or dots. A domino can be joined to other dominoes, or to a square of wood or paper, to form lines and angular patterns that allow a variety of games to be played. Dominoes can also be used to create art, such as a picture, letters or shapes. The game of domino, in addition to being a fun way to spend time, helps develop number recognition and counting skills.

The word domino is believed to have originated in French and English from the Latin dominus, meaning “master.” In English, the name may also be derived from the Spanish word domingo, which means “flag.” The first use of the word was as a name for a type of playing piece in the 14th century. The word is also associated with a style of hooded cape that was worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade.

The most common uses of the domino are in various games that involve placing or laying down a series of dominoes, often along a line. In addition, a domino can be used to build 3-D structures. Dominoes are also popular as toys for children.

Each player draws dominoes in turn, arranging them edge to edge on the table until a chain of tiles is formed. The next tile must be played onto the chain so that it straddles an end of a previous tile. This begins a new round. Players win by accumulating points or blocking other players from scoring.

Most domino games are positional, in which a player places a domino on the table so that it is touching another domino, or is positioned edge-to-edge against a domino with a specific number (e.g., five to four). Occasionally, a player will place a tile in such a way that it is neither touching nor overlapping an opponent’s tile.

In a domino show, a player builds a structure using several different types of dominoes, including straight lines, curved lines and grids that form pictures or other shapes. Each structure is carefully planned, and the builder attempts to set up a series of dominoes in careful sequence so that they all fall with a single nudge from one of them.

Dominoes are also commonly used as building blocks, in the form of a line or a tessellation, to make art. This is often done in competitions, where competitors compete to build the most complex and imaginative domino effect or reaction before an audience of fans.

Dominoes can be used to teach physics, such as how gravity affects the movement of objects. For example, a physicist explains that when a domino is standing upright it has potential energy, or stored energy, based on its position. When the domino falls, this energy is converted into kinetic energy, which causes other dominoes to topple as well.