What is carom? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of carom in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of carom

caromverb
carom
/ˈkærəm//ˈkærəm/

Where does the word carom come from?

The word "carom" originated from the Middle French word "caramin," which means "to dissipate" or "disperse." In the context of the game, carom refers to the act of striking the cue ball in such a way that it hits multiple objects, but does not necessarily pocket any of them. This term is commonly used in the game of carom billiards or three-cushion billiards, where the goal is to carom off the two object balls and the cushions on the table as many times as possible before finally pocketing the white cue ball into a pocket. The term "carom" is also sometimes used in table tennis to describe a shot that bounces off the table's edges, creating a fast and difficult return for the opponent.

Vocabulary summary carom

type noun

meaning (US, US idiom) a hit that hits several marbles in succession

type journalize

meaning (US, US idiom) to hit several marbles in succession with one shot

Example of vocabulary caromnamespace

In the game of carom billiards, the white ball is used to strike the red and blue balls, causing them to carom off the edges of the table.
When playing carom billiards, the object is to pocket as many of the red or blue balls as possible by caroming them into pockets with the white ball.
The carom between the black and green balls sent the white ball flying off the table.
After caroming the red ball off the side pocket, the blue ball rolled back into play.
The forward spin on the white ball allowed for a precise carom off the green ball.