billiard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, but rarely. It's a technical term for a specific score (a 'billiard' is a cannon where the cue ball hits both object balls) in English billiards. In everyday language, it's almost always an adjective ('billiard table') or part of the plural noun 'billiards'.

Traditionally, 'billiards' refers to games played on a table without pockets (like carom billiards) or with very few balls (like English billiards). 'Pool' typically refers to games played on a table with six pockets, using 16 balls (like eight-ball or nine-ball). In American casual speech, 'billiards' is often used interchangeably with 'pool'.

Historically, the game name 'billiards' comes from French 'billiard' (the cue) but adopted a plural '-s' form in English, treating it as a singular noun ('Billiards is fun'). The adjective form 'billiard' drops the '-s'.

No, 'billiard' is not standardly used as a verb. One 'plays billiards' or 'shoots pool.' The action is described with verbs like 'pot,' 'cue,' 'break,' or 'cannon.'

A specific unit of scoring in the game of billiards.

Billiard is usually formal in register.

Billiard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪl.i.əd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪl.jɚd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.