domino

[ˈdɑːmɪnoʊ]
nounmasculinepl: dominoes
dominó
1. A small rectangular tile marked with dots (pips) used in the game of dominoes
She drew a domino from the pile and placed it on the table.
Ela tirou um dominó da pilha e colocou sobre a mesa.
2. A game played with dominoes where players match dots on adjacent tiles
They played domino every Friday night at the community center.
Eles jogavam dominó toda sexta à noite no centro comunitário.
3. A loose hooded robe or cloak traditionally worn at masquerade balls
She wore a red domino mask to the carnival party.
Ela usava uma máscara de dominó vermelha na festa de carnaval.
4. Short for domino effect; a chain reaction of events
One small mistake created a domino of failures throughout the project.
Um pequeno erro criou uma cascata de falhas em todo o projeto.
In Brazil, dominó is deeply embedded in popular culture, especially among working-class communities. It's a classic bar and social game played with groups, often accompanied by drinks and animated conversation. The game represents social bonding and leisure time. In the USA, while dominoes is known, it's less culturally significant than in Brazilian society, though it has strong roots in certain communities, particularly in the South and among immigrant populations.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
tilemaskcascadechain reaction

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
dominó
Standard term for both the game and the tiles; very popular social game
Rio de Janeiro
dominó
Played extensively in informal gatherings and bars (boteco)
São Paulo
dominó
Common recreational activity among working-class communities
Portugal
dominó
Same usage as Brazilian Portuguese; less dominant culturally than in Brazil

Related Words

domino effectcascadechain reactionmasqueradegametile

Related Idioms & Phrases

domino effect - a chain reaction where one event triggers a series of subsequent events
knock down like dominoes - to cause rapid succession of failures or defeats
set up the dominoes - to create conditions that will lead to a cascade of events
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