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

Verb

• bounce
• rebound
• ricochet

Examples of carom in a Sentence

Verb

a ball caromed off the wall

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Luciano took the perfect angle to play the carom off the wall, received the ball on a hop then smoothly spun into an accurate throw to second base. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025

Conforto misplayed the carom and Anthony wound up with a triple. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 July 2025

Verb

Third baseman Nolan Gorman’s throw was wide of first base, and the ball caromed off Contreras’ glove and to the side wall, allowing Cronenworth to scamper to third. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025

But the Mets received a huge break when Juan Soto’s ground ball up the middle clipped Lucchesi’s leg and caromed away from Adames for an RBI single. —Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025

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