billiards

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

bil·liards | \ˈbi(l)-yərdz

Definition of billiards

: any of several games played on an oblong table by driving small balls against one another or into pockets with a cue specifically : a game in which one scores by causing a cue ball to hit in succession two object balls — compare pool entry 3

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about billiards

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Did You Know?

The word billiards refers to any of various games played on a cloth-topped, cushion-railed rectangular table by driving small, hard balls against one another or into pockets, with a long stick called a cue. Carom, or French billiards, is played with three balls, two white and one red, on a table without pockets. The object is to stroke the white cue ball so that it hits the two object balls in succession, scoring a carom (one point). English billiards is also played with three balls, but on a pocketed table; it is scored in various ways. Snooker is another popular British billiards game. The principal billiards game in North America is pocket billiards, or pool. The Billiard Congress of America controls US tournament play, including the US Open Pockets Billiard Championship, regarded as the world championship.

Examples of billiards in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lower portion of the house has a billiards room, a wine cellar, a screening room and a gym. — Katherine Clarke, WSJ, "Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Onetime Malibu Home Sells for About $50 Million," 1 Aug. 2018 Located alongside a nine-hole golf-course, the Playhouse includes and indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, squash court, billiards room, and bowling alleys. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "See Inside the Rockefeller Family's Historic Playhouse," 27 July 2018 Castle Hyde,’ which has a billiards room decorated in an African safari theme and an indoor recreation complex with a swimming pool. — Katherine Clarke, WSJ, "‘Lord of the Dance’ Michael Flatley Relists Irish Manor for $14.5 Million," 28 June 2018 Elsewhere, there’s a breakfast nook, a theater room, a wet bar, a sauna, a gym, a billiards room and a family room with a curved wall of windows. — Jack Flemming, latimes.com, "Son of former Disney CEO sells Little Holmby mansion for a record $12.8 million," 13 June 2018 There is a lacquered library, a velvety billiards room and a dining room with its own bar. — Shannon Rooney, Philly.com, "Three suburban Philly pools fit for an epic staycation," 5 June 2018 The formal dining room opens to a step-down living room, which shares a two-sided flagstone fireplace with a billiards/game room. — Neal J. Leitereg And Lauren Beale, latimes.com, "Hot Property: A potpourri of sorts," 31 Mar. 2018 Joe Bogdovics, of Roebling, New Jersey, and his wife Debbie were in Atlantic City this week for a billiards tournament usually held at Bally’s. — Washington Post, "At 40, are Atlantic City casinos healing or courting danger?," 11 May 2018 The 5,800-square-foot house features an eat-in kitchen, five bedrooms and a billiards room with a wet bar. — Neal J. Leitereg, sacbee, "Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant buys Malibu beachfront property for $12.05 million | The Sacramento Bee," 6 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'billiards.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.