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

The stunned Celtics watched as Pettit corralled the carom and put up a shot as time expired. —The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 22 June 2025

The ball hit 113 mph off Witt’s bat, so the carom still shot past Sheets. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025

Verb

Taylor Pannell hit a deep fly to left field to lead off Tennessee’s half of the ninth, a ball that caromed off Rylee Slimp’s glove and hit the white padding on the top of the wall but didn’t leave the field. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025

Mets third baseman Brett Baty bounced his throw home, the ball caroming over the head of catcher Francisco Alvarez and into the glove of Garrett, who was backing up the play. —Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 5 June 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