Domino is a small, flat block used as a gaming object. Variously known as bones, cards, men, pieces, or stones, dominoes have many uses and games that can be played with them. Some domino games involve blocking opponents’ play, while others are scoring games that determine points based on the number of pips in each player’s remaining tiles. In addition to the traditional block and scoring games, there are also a variety of domino puzzles that help players develop hand-eye coordination.
The most familiar type of domino is the standard 28-piece set that has a single line down the middle to divide it visually into two squares. Each of these sides contains an arrangement of dots called pips that match the pips on a die, with the opposite side being blank. The pips indicate the value of a domino – its rank or weight. Heavier dominoes have more pips, while lighter ones have fewer.
Each domino has a unique identifying mark on its face that distinguishes it from other identical-looking dominoes. This mark may be a number or a letter, and in some cases is used as a sort of serial number. The dominoes are usually twice as long as they are wide, making it easy to stack them after use and to place one on top of another when they are lined up correctly.
While dominoes are often made of wood, they can be constructed from other materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony. They are usually painted or colored, with white being the most common color. Some people make elaborate pieces of domino art, creating curved lines and grids that form pictures, or even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Dominoes can also be used to create sculptures.
In a real life scenario, a domino effect occurs when one event triggers a chain reaction that has unexpected consequences. A good example is when a patient in the hospital suffers from an infection and then, due to carelessness by medical professionals, becomes vulnerable to a different and possibly more serious infection that can spread throughout the body. This type of infection is called a nosocomial infection.
A domino effect in a novel can be used to illustrate a particular point or theme, such as the impact of a death on the lives of those who remain. It can also be used to show a change in the mood of the characters or the setting in a story. A dramatic domino effect can help draw the reader into a scene or storyline by creating suspense and tension.
Dominoes can also be a way to demonstrate the concept of inertia. This is the tendency of objects to resist motion unless there is some outside force acting on them. A nudge from someone or something is all it takes to tip the first domino over and begin a chain reaction that affects all of the other dominoes in the line. The same principle can be applied to writing a story. Each scene domino is ineffective on its own, but when positioned carefully in the right order they can have a great impact on the story.
