carom

1 of 2

noun

car·​om ˈker-əm 

ˈka-rəm

1

a

: a shot in billiards in which the cue ball strikes each of two object balls

b

: a shot in pool in which an object ball strikes another ball before falling into a pocket compare combination shot

2

: a rebounding especially at an angle

carom

2 of 2

verb

caromed; caroming; caroms

intransitive verb

1

: to strike and rebound : glance

the car caromed off a tree

2

: to make a carom

3

: to proceed by or as if by caroms

carom from city to city

Synonyms of carom

Verb

• bounce
• rebound
• ricochet

Examples of carom in a Sentence

Verb

a ball caromed off the wall

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Midway through the second period, Kaprizov doubled the Wild lead thanks to a fortuitous carom. —CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025

Next came a give-and-go from Müller, a shot, a carom and a blast into the mixer that produced a goal. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025

Verb

Los Angeles went back in front 3-2 early in the third period when Byfield sent the puck caroming off the boards back into the crease, Wallstedt lost it in his skates off his line, and it was eventually knocked in by an errant Minnesota stick. —CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026

The Kings went back in front 3-2 early in the third period when Byfield sent the puck caroming off the boards back into the crease, Wallstedt lost it in his skates off his line, and it was eventually knocked in by an errant Minnesota stick. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

by shortening & alteration from obsolete carambole, from Spanish carambola

First Known Use

Noun

1779, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for carom

• arum
• ferrum
• harem
• alarum

Kids Definition

carom

1 of 2 noun

car·​om ˈkar-əm 

: a rebounding especially at an angle

carom

2 of 2 verb

: to strike and rebound at an angle