Domino, or dominoes, are a set of small flat blocks used as gaming pieces. They are sometimes called bones, pieces, men, or stones and can be made of wood, bone, ivory, or polymer (plastic). A domino has a surface with an arrangement of dots or pips, like those on dice, and is blank or identically patterned on the other side. They are typically arranged in sets, and each set has different numbers of dominoes. Dominoes may also have additional shapes such as square, diamond, or heart-shaped.

The most common domino games are blocking or scoring games for two to four players. The player who has the most number of pips in their domino wins. The remaining dominoes are left in a pile, called the boneyard, and the next player takes the lead. There are many variants of domino games, and the rules vary by game type, but most have similar elements.

Some of these variants are adaptations of card games, and others have been created to circumvent religious proscriptions against playing cards. A traditional 32-piece European domino set originally represented the 21 possible combinations of the pips on two six-sided dice (2d6), but later sets added duplicates and divided the pieces into suits of military and civil types.

Dominoes are a great way to entertain yourself, but they can also be used in a variety of creative projects. Some people make domino art, creating patterns with the pieces or constructing 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Others use them to create tracks for trains or cars, or to build a model city.

One of the most popular uses of domino is for educational purposes, incorporating the principles of physics and mathematics. For example, students can learn about gravity and friction by setting up a chain of dominoes on a table and watching how they fall.

A domino can also be used to teach simple addition and subtraction. This is because a domino has a single-digit number on each side, so it can be matched to the number on the opposite face. The student can then add or subtract the numbers to make the correct combination.

Another fun activity with dominoes is to arrange them to form words or pictures. This can be a great activity for children and adults of all ages. The more intricate the design, the more difficult it is to accomplish.

The name Domino is a Latin word for “of the Lord.” A man with this title is a leader who appreciates cause and effect, and knows that each decision has consequences. The name also inspires a sense of order and responsibility. This is a good name for a child.