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

Additionally, it’s unclear where Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Obama will be staying during their time in Los Angeles, but freeway closures should be expected when their motorcades carom around town.

From Los Angeles Times

He talked to himself harshly down the fairway, especially seeing the ball carom off a slope into the bunker, leaving him an impossible shot.

From Seattle Times

McIlroy’s friendly tree carom on No. 9 wasn’t his only bit of luck.

From Seattle Times

It came after a hustle play by Uzan, who tracked down a rebound off a missed free throw and threw it off the leg of Sharp, allowing it to carom out of bounds.

From Seattle Times

Jackson threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter — one of which came thanks to a fortuitous carom — and the Ravens beat Cincinnati 34-20 on Thursday night after the Bengals lost Joe Burrow to a wrist injury.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• glance
• ricochet
• skim