carom

Or car·rom

[kar-uhm]

noun

1. Billiards, Pool.,  a shot in which the cue ball hits two balls in succession.

2. any strike and rebound, as a ball striking a wall and glancing off.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a carom.

2. to strike and rebound.

carom

/ ˈkærəm /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): cannon. billiards

   1. a shot in which the cue ball is caused to contact one object ball after another

   2. the points scored by this

Word History and Origins

Origin of carom¹

1770–80; by false analysis of carambole (taken as carom ball ) < French < Spanish carambola, special use of fruit name; carambola

Word History and Origins

Origin of carom¹

C18: from earlier carambole (taken as carom ball ), from Spanish _carambola

Example Sentences

If in some ways “The Waterfront” feels assembled off the shelf, there’s enough activity that some viewers, possibly a lot of them, will dig in just to see how this thing caroms into that.

From Los Angeles Times

It carried to the foul pole, struck it, then caromed back onto the field.

From Los Angeles Times

LAFC’s rebuilt midfield struggled to slow Minnesota’s speedy attackers in the early going but was bailed out when Kelvin Yeboah’s left-footed shot struck the right post and caromed across the goalmouth in the 13th minute.

From Los Angeles Times

The ensuing free kick from the 20-yard line was made off the ground, not on a tee, and the ball caromed laterally out of bounds without touching a player, resulting in a five-yard penalty.

From Los Angeles Times

Matt Chapman walked on a full-count fastball that caromed off catcher Smith’s glove for a passed ball that allowed Wade to score for a 1-0 Giants lead.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• glance 
• ricochet 
• skim