Domino is a popular game with pieces that are lined up in rows and knocked over. It can be played in many ways, from building structures to simply throwing the pieces across a table. It’s also used as a component in other games and can even be made into art installations. In 2009, a domino artist set a world record by toppling an exhibit that was 76,017 pieces tall.

The most common type of domino is a double-six set, which contains 28 pieces. They are normally twice as long as they are wide, and each side features a line in the middle to divide it visually into two squares, called ends. One of these squares is marked with an arrangement of spots, or pips, like those on a die, while the other is blank or has no pips at all. The sum of the pips on either end determines the rank or weight of a domino, and is the value used to determine the order in which players take turns.

Each player starts with a hand of seven dominoes, and play passes to the next person when the last domino in the hand cannot be laid. Each player takes a turn picking a domino from the stock and playing it on its edge so that it will match one of the ends of a previously played domino. The first player to do this is said to “play the opening double,” and if the opening double is not available, the highest ranked domino in any of the players’ hands is played.

When players are unable to play a domino, they are said to “knock” the domino, which means to tap it on its edge with a fist or another object. A domino that has been knocked is referred to as a “sleeping” or “dead” domino, and when it is re-stacked in the same way it will become active again.

The game is commonly used as an educational tool to develop problem-solving skills and to learn about the relationship between numbers and patterns. It can also help children develop motor skills and improve their concentration. It can also encourage a sense of responsibility and teamwork.

In a business environment, domino can refer to an organization’s leadership structure. A good example is Domino’s Pizza, which has a well-established culture of employee engagement. Its CEO Don Meij regularly visits Domino’s restaurants and listens to the employees about their work issues. This shows that the company values its employees and cares about their opinions.

For a fun fitness activity, place a few dozen dominoes on the floor and ask each child to pick an exercise (like jumping jacks or summersaults) and do it as many times as the number on the domino they picked. They can even use their own bodies to make the dominoes do the exercises! These examples have been automatically compiled from various online sources. This means that they do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.