A narrow slit or opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin or a letter. Also, a position or assignment. The slot of chief copy editor, for example.
In computing, a memory location or disk space where a specific type of object can be stored. For example, a game may offer four save slots.
In ice hockey, the unmarked area in front of an opponent’s goal that affords a vantage point for an attacking player. Also, a slit in the primary feathers of certain birds that allows them to maintain flight stability by regulating air flow.
In gambling, a machine that pays out winning combinations according to a formula based on the number of symbols and their locations on the reels. Originally, slots could only display a single symbol on each reel. Charles Fey’s 1887 invention added more symbols and allowed each to occupy multiple positions on the reels. This increased the number of possible combinations and made it much harder to predict when a jackpot would occur. Since the 1980s, slot manufacturers have programmed their machines to weight particular symbols, increasing the odds that a losing combination will appear, or that three aligned liberty bells will win. However, even with this change, players must still know their bankroll and be able to recognize which combinations are more lucrative. As a result, slots have lost some of their allure. They are now more like lottery games than casino games.