How Do You Spell CAROMS?

Pronunciation: [kˈaɹɒmz] (IPA)

The word "caroms" refers to a billiards shot, where the cue ball hits another ball and then rebounds off of one or more cushions. The spelling of "caroms" can be tricky, as it deviates from the usual pronunciation pattern. The IPA phonetic transcription for "caroms" is /kəˈrɒmz/. The stress is on the second syllable, and the final "s" is pronounced as a "z". So, when writing or saying this word, be careful to include the silent "r" and pronounce the final "s" as a "z".

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Basic Check Advanced Check

CAROMS Meaning and Definition

  1. Caroms refer to the ricocheting or rebounding of a projectile, such as a ball or bullet, off a surface or object. It is a term commonly used in sports and billiards, where a player strikes a ball with a cue, intending for it to collide with multiple other balls or cushions to achieve a desired outcome. In this context, caroms involve the strategic manipulation of angles, speeds, and rebounds to achieve advantageous positions or scores.

    This term is frequently used in the game of carom billiards, which includes various disciplines like straight rail, three-cushion, and five-pins. Carom billiards differs from other cue sports, such as snooker or pool, as it requires players to make contact with more than one ball in a single shot without pocketing any. The ability to accurately predict and control caroms is a crucial skill in carom billiards, enhancing a player's ability to score points or set up subsequent shots.

    Outside the realm of billiards, caroms can also apply to other sports or activities where the bouncing or redirection of a projectile is involved. For example, in table tennis or air hockey, players often utilize caroms to surprise their opponents by striking their shots off the sides and corners of the table. In physics and engineering, caroms provide insights into the principles of momentum, angle of incidence, and elastic collisions, contributing to the understanding of projectile behaviors in various fields.

Common Misspellings for CAROMS

Etymology of CAROMS

The word "carom" is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word "carimbo", which means "stamp" or "seal". This term was used to describe a game played in India known as "karom", "carrom", or "karrom". Karom was derived from an older Indian game called "Burma", which was popular across the Indian subcontinent.

During the British colonial era, the game gained popularity in Europe and was introduced to the United States. Over time, the spelling of the word changed to "carom" and came to refer specifically to the billiards shot where the cue ball strikes two other balls successively.