A slot is a narrow opening or groove, such as a keyway in a machine or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. It can also refer to a position in a series or sequence, such as an appointment or a time slot on a schedule. In computing, a slot can be an expansion port, a memory slot or a device that allows you to plug in peripherals such as a DVD drive or hard disk drive.
You checked in, made it through security and waited for your flight to leave. But then the captain says, “We have a slot delay.” What does that mean? And how can you avoid the frustration of a delay?
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language describes a slot as a narrow opening or groove, such as the keyway in a machine or a slot for a coin in a vending device. A slot can also refer to a position in
(journalism) The space on the inside of the “rim” of a copy desk, occupied by the chief copy editor. It is a job that requires considerable skill and judgment.
In computing, a slot can be an expandable area on the motherboard that accepts PCI or AGP cards. It can also refer to a slot on the back of a computer case that accommodates a video card. A slot can also be a name for a particular function on a piece of software such as a game or application.
A slot is also a type of casino or gambling machine that uses a random number generator to determine winning combinations. A typical slot game has several pay lines and different symbols that vary according to the theme of the machine. Some slots offer a progressive jackpot, which grows with each bet until it is won. Others have a fixed jackpot amount that resets to zero after a certain number of spins.
To play a slot, you insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a slot on the machine. The machine then activates the reels, which stop and rearrange the symbols when a winning combination is hit. The machine then pays out credits based on the paytable. Most slots have a specific theme, and the symbols and bonus features are usually aligned with that theme.