Domino is a generic gaming device, much like playing cards or dice, that can be used to play many games with very different rules. A domino set has a number of different shaped and colored tiles with matching ends that are placed one on top of the other to form a long line. When a domino is knocked over it sets off a chain of dominoes that eventually comes to a stop when all the other tiles have been laid down.
Each domino is marked with a number at both ends. These numbers are used to identify the piece and to determine what type of domino it is – for example, whether it is a single, double or a king. Each player in turn places a domino on the table positioning it so that its open end touches the end of the previous tile played. This results in the formation of a domino chain that gradually increases in length. If a player plays a domino so that both of its ends show the same number (normally a number that is useful to them or distasteful to their opponents), that player is said to have “stitched up” the ends.
Often, players draw more dominoes than they are permitted to take for their hand according to the rules of a particular game. These extra dominoes are called byes and the player who draws them may not use them for his or her play. The player who has the heaviest dominoes, either in his or her hand or in the stock, makes the first play.
The term domino is also used figuratively to describe any cascade of events that follow from an initial event, such as a soccer team winning one match after another that leads to the state championship. The word domino also has an even older meaning that relates to a hooded cloak worn over a priest’s surplice in a carnival or masquerade event.
When a domino is tapped, it stores energy and is then released as the next domino is knocked over. This release of energy is similar to the way that a nerve impulse travels down the length of an axon without losing any of its energy along the way.
Lily Hevesh, who goes by the YouTube name Hevesh5, has been building and filming her own domino creations since she was 9 years old when she got her first 28-pack of classic dominoes from her grandparents. She now creates spectacular domino setups for movies, TV shows and special events, including an album launch by Katy Perry.
Hevesh spends a lot of time on her domino installations, which are sometimes very complex, by making test versions that she can then video in slow motion to make sure that each section works perfectly. Once she is happy with a section, she will add the rest of the dominoes to create the final installation.
Although many people enjoy playing domino, few know that the domino effect can also be used to describe how things happen in life. For example, when a person wins a big race it creates a domino effect that motivates other runners to try harder and succeed. Similarly, when a student achieves academic success it can inspire their classmates to push themselves and succeed as well. The domino effect can also be used to describe goodwill within a community or how an idea can spread rapidly.