Domino is a board game played by two or more players. It consists of rectangular pieces (known as dominoes or dominators) with one face blank and the other faced with one, three, five, seven, eleven, or more dots. The number of dots on a domino is called its value. Each piece must be placed in a line with the adjoining pieces so that the values of the adjacent faces match or form some specified total. The value of a domino may also be expressed in terms of its rank, which is determined by the sum of the values of the adjacent faces.

A domino is normally twice as long as it is wide, which makes re-stacking the pieces easier. It is also common for each domino to feature a line in the middle to divide it visually into two square ends, or “ends,” that can be distinguished by their different color or value. The number of spots on each end is also referred to as its rank. Dominoes are normally ranked double-six, though many games have variants that use more or less than six pips on each end.

The game of domino has been a popular activity in both Europe and America since the mid-18th century. It was brought to England from France by French prisoners toward the end of that century. The name “domino” is thought to have come from the Latin for “cape,” which may refer to the garment worn by a priest over his surplice when participating in a carnival or masquerade. The word is also a cognate of the Italian domanda, which was used in both English and French to describe a long hooded cloak that a person might wear with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade.

In fiction, the word domino is commonly used to illustrate any sequence of events that have a cascading effect. For example, a character might drop one piece and the rest of the set will fall in a rhythmic, domino-like motion. The term is also used to describe a particular scene in a novel or nonfiction work.

In a more subtle sense, the word domino is often used to refer to a leader who has the ability to stand out in a crowd and inspire others. This is a concept that Domino’s embraces in their leadership practices and has integrated into their company culture. When CEO Brandon Doyle took over the company, he continued to emphasize this core value and promoted the idea that leaders are made rather than born. This is similar to their approach to management, which is more participatory and focuses on listening to employees.

In addition to incorporating these principles into their business practices, Domino’s has also developed a technological system that recognizes when a consumer is within 20 meters of a store and sends them a personalized menu and upsell offers. This has led to an increase in engagement rates and customer satisfaction.