Domino is an elegant and simple word with many meanings. It’s the name of a popular game, but it can also describe a type of chain reaction or even a business strategy. You might have heard of Domino’s pizza, but you may not know that the company’s name is a portmanteau of “Dominique” and “Nicole.” Domino is an excellent word to use when describing a process or system because it is easy to understand and conveys a sense of order and control.

A domino is a small rectangular tile with a number of dots or symbols on it, usually one or more squares. Each domino has a line that divides it visually into two squares, with one side bearing an arrangement of spots (also called pips) and the other blank or identically patterned. The pips indicate the value of the domino, which is sometimes described as its rank or weight. A domino is normally twice as long as it is wide, although some have a slightly different shape.

The most common usage of domino is in positional games, where a player places a domino edge-to-edge against another in such a way that the adjacent sides match or form some specified total. This can be accomplished with matching numbers, as in the game bergen and muggins, or with matching color, as in the games of Mexican train and chicken foot. There are also a variety of other blocking and scoring games, as well as solitaire or trick-taking games that duplicate card games.

Many people have seen the satisfying videos of long chains of dominoes toppling one after the other, forming a shape or revealing an image. Some people create stunning domino art, using curved lines and grids that form pictures, stacked walls, 3D structures, or even towers and pyramids.

For the most part, though, Domino is just a fun and entertaining game to play with children or with friends. Whether they are lining them up in long rows, or building complex and imaginative domino reactions before an audience of fans, the domino effect is mesmerizing to see.

Domino’s is a successful business because it knows that the domino effect is just as important for its success as the quality of its food or the speed of its delivery. It has invested heavily in new technology and developed innovative methods for its customers to order pizza, such as through text messages and Amazon Echo. It also recognizes that the best way to maintain its lead is by keeping up its momentum, so it constantly strives to introduce fresh and exciting innovations. As a result, Domino’s is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in pizza and delivery. This approach has led to its current market leadership and a consistent track record of strong financial performance. But what’s really driving the success of Domino’s is its strong, visionary leader, Dominic Doyle.