A slit or other narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, as a coin or a letter. Also: a position, assignment, or job opening: he’s hoping to land a slot as an editor.
In computing, a portion of main memory that contains data for a given application program. Each CPU core has several slots, and each application can have its own dedicated slot. A single memory block can also have several slots, allowing applications to use multiple CPUs simultaneously.
On a video slot machine, a line that crosses each reel to determine winning combinations. The number and type of pay lines can vary from machine to machine. Some traditional three-reel machines have only a single payline, while others have up to 1024 different possible pay lines. A slot machine may also have special symbols, such as stylized lucky sevens, that align with its theme.
Sports An unmarked area in front of the goal between the face-off circles on an ice hockey rink, from which a winger or center can launch a blistering slap shot. The high slot is particularly difficult to defend, as a well-placed one-timer from the high slot can travel at speeds over 100 miles per hour and slip past even the best goaltender.
In scheduling, a method of organizing events and tasks by assigning them specific time periods. For example, using a slot-based system can help organize informal team meetings, consultations with staff and evaluation reviews with managers.