domino
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domino
A single small, rectangular game piece (domino tile) that is divided in the middle and marked with a certain number of dots.
Mir fehlt nur noch der Domino mit der doppelten Sechs, um die Reihe zu schließen.
I only need the domino with the double six to complete the row.
dominoes
The board game played with the corresponding game pieces.
Am Sonntagnachmittag spielen wir oft eine Runde Domino mit der ganzen Familie.
On Sunday afternoons, we often play a round of dominoes with the whole family.
domino
In a figurative sense, an event that triggers an unavoidable chain reaction of similar events (domino effect).
Die Pleite der ersten Bank war der erste Domino in einer langen Reihe von Firmenzusammenbrüchen.
The bankruptcy of the first bank was the first domino in a long series of company collapses.
The meaning depends on the context. If people are talking about 'aufstellen' (setting up) or 'umfallen' (falling over), the individual tile is meant (m01). The phrase 'Domino spielen' (to play dominoes) refers to the game (m02). In a figurative sense, 'Domino' (domino) stands for an event that triggers a chain reaction (m03).
Vorsicht, dass die Dominos nicht zu früh umfallen!
Be careful that the dominoes don't fall over too early!
When referring to the board game, the verb 'spielen' (to play) is usually used. A typical phrase is 'eine Runde Domino spielen' (to play a round of dominoes).
Wollen wir heute Abend eine Runde Domino spielen?
Shall we play a round of dominoes tonight?
The figurative meaning is almost always used in the fixed term 'Dominoeffekt' (domino effect). It describes a chain reaction in which one event triggers a series of further, similar events.
Die Schließung der Fabrik hatte einen Dominoeffekt auf die lokalen Zulieferer.
The closure of the factory had a domino effect on the local suppliers.
chain reaction
When describing a sequence of events, der Domino focuses on the triggering event and uses the image of falling dominoes. die Kettenreaktion, by contrast, refers to the entire sequence, in which each event triggers the next.
Der erste Stromausfall war der Domino, der weitere ähnliche Ausfälle auslöste.
The first power outage was the domino that triggered further similar outages.
Der erste Stromausfall löste eine Kettenreaktion mit weiteren ähnlichen Ausfällen aus.
The first power outage triggered a chain reaction involving further similar outages.
