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
• glance
• rebound
• ricochet
• skim
• skip

Examples of carom in a Sentence

Verb

a ball caromed off the wall

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His second series began with another roll to the right, and with the ball being batted back into his face by safety Tawfiq Byard, who nearly picked the carom off. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2025

Listen to this article Good morning from Chicago, Jackson Merrill watched his 102 mph line drive carom off Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd’s left shoulder and bounce directly to second baseman Nico Hoerner. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025

Verb

Instead, perhaps the worst pitch shot of McIlroy’s career caromed along the front of No. 13, trundling down into the water. —Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

The teams traded runs in the 11th as Pittsburgh’s Adam Frazier hit an RBI groundout off Lake Bachar, and Kyle Stowers tied it with an RBI infield single that caromed off Wentz in the bottom half. —Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 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