a narrow, elongated depression, groove, notch, slit, or aperture, especially a narrow opening for receiving or admitting something, as a coin or a letter.
a place or position, as in a sequence or series: The program received a new time slot on the broadcasting schedule.
Linguistics. (especially in tagmemics) a position having a specific grammatical function within a construction into which any one of a set of morphemes or morpheme sequences can be fit.Compare filler (def. 9).
an assignment or job opening; position: I applied for the slot in management training.
Journalism.
the interior opening in a copy desk, occupied by the chief copy editor.
the job or position of chief copy editor: He had the slot at the Gazette for 20 years.Compare rim (def. 7).
an allocated, scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by an airport or air-traffic authority: 40 more slots for the new airline at U.S. airports.
Informal. slot machine (def. 1).
Aeronautics. See under slat1 (def. 2).
Ornithology. a narrow notch or other similar opening between the tips of the primaries of certain birds, which during flight helps to maintain a smooth flow of air over the wings.
Ice Hockey. an unmarked area near the front of an opponent's goal that affords a vantage for an attacking player.
Computers. expansion slot.
verb (used with object),slot·ted,slot·ting.
to provide with a slot or slots; make a slot in.
to place or fit into a slot: We've slotted his appointment for four o'clock.
verb (used without object),slot·ted,slot·ting.
to fit or be placed in a slot.
Origin of slot
1
1300–50; Middle English: the hollow of the breastbone <Middle French esclot< ?
What is affecting our predictions some is the addition of more wild-card slots.
We Previewed Both Kinds Of Football For You|Sarah Shachat|September 8, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
That’s why SEOs push so hard to dominate that particular slot in the organic SERPs.
How to become a master of featured snippets|Mark Webster|September 3, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Citizens have to book a time slot online in order to get a test.
Hong Kong’s new mass COVID testing scheme is free and voluntary—and some citizens are suspicious|eamonbarrett|August 26, 2020|Fortune
When the pandemic forced the county’s 19 libraries to close during the state’s primary, librarians and election officials allowed voters to return ballots through the outdoor slots where people return books.
As states mull expanding vote by mail, they’re turning to Oregon for advice|Lee Clifford|August 24, 2020|Fortune
By the time Mayfield returned, his starting slot had been handed to someone else, and his scholarship was in question — with future superstar Patrick Mahomes waiting in the wings.
When Baker Mayfield Was a Walk-On|Nick Fouriezos|August 14, 2020|Ozy
He said Moran had expected to be muffled by state observers when he did a slot on their show.
Igor Meerson, Russia’s Funniest Export|Nico Hines|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The German government paid $16 billion to make sure there would be a slot for every child.
Free Market Failure: Raising a Kid Is a Rigged Game in the USA|Monica Potts|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And that enabled me to slot in the shooting of the first two episodes [of The Divide] in that.
Tony Goldwyn Tackles Political Scandal Again on ‘The Divide’|Jason Lynch|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
(Mulgrew could actually nudge out Chlumsky and land that sixth slot).
Emmys 2014: Who Will and Who Should Be Nominated|Kevin Fallon|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This slot harks back to what Walters is most celebrated and venerated for—her interviews.
Don’t Remember Barbara Walters for ‘The View’|Tim Teeman|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Advanced seams on cloth and silk: Flannel seam, slot seam, umbrella seam.
The Making of a Trade School|Mary Schenck Woolman
A port, or slot, is cut near the top on opposite sides of each of the shells.
The Gasoline Motor|Harold Whiting Slauson
Then a slot was cut in the side to receive a pin inserted in a shaft made to fit the horizontal hole.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
With a faint click, a loaded tray passed through a slot in the rear wall of Albert Johnson's cell.
Insidekick|Jesse Franklin Bone
The mast goes through the forward end of the slot, and when it is in use the slot is filled up with a heavy slab.
Ancient and Modern Ships.|George C. V. Holmes
British Dictionary definitions for slot (1 of 2)
slot1
/ (slɒt) /
noun
an elongated aperture or groove, such as one in a vending machine for inserting a coin
an air passage in an aerofoil to direct air from the lower to the upper surface, esp the gap formed behind a slat
a vertical opening between the leech of a foresail and a mast or the luff of another sail through which air spills from one against the other to impart forward motion
informala place in a series or scheme
verbslots, slottingorslotted
(tr)to furnish with a slot or slots
(usually foll by in or into) to fit or adjust in a slot
informalto situate or be situated in a series or scheme
Derived forms of slot
slotter, noun
Word Origin for slot
C13: from Old French esclot the depression of the breastbone, of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for slot (2 of 2)
slot2
/ (slɒt) /
noun
the trail of an animal, esp a deer
Word Origin for slot
C16: from Old French esclot horse's hoof-print, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sloth track; see sleuth