Ma'anar ƙamus na billiards wasa ne da aka saba bugawa akan babban teburi mai kusurwa huɗu tare da aljihuna shida, ta amfani da sandar ƙira don buga saitin ƙananan ƙwallaye masu wuya, gami da farar ƙwallo ɗaya da ƙwallayen abu 15, da nufin na tukwane (watau nutsewa) abin ya buga ƙwallaye a cikin aljihu. Yawancin 'yan wasa ko ƙungiyoyi biyu ne ke buga wasan kuma ya ƙunshi yin amfani da kusurwoyi, juzu'i, da dabara don ƙetare abokin hamayya da maki. Billiards kuma ana san su da wasu sunaye daban-daban, gami da tafkin, snooker, da carom.