Slot1
/slät
/(the Slot) Name given in World War II by US forces to New Georgia Sound, in the central Solomon Islands. Japanese forces trying to defend Guadalcanal were seen as coming consistently down this passage from the northwest.
slot2
/slɒt
/noun
1A long, narrow aperture or slit in a machine for something to be inserted: he slid a coin into the slot of the jukebox...
- This user-friendly machine has a tiny slot for inserting the bank-notes and the service provided is free.
- I inserted a CD into the insert slot on the machine and it pulled the CD inside.
- Coffee drinkers in luxurious coffee shops may throw a disrespectful or pathetic look on me, one who puts coins in the slot of a coffee machine.
Synonyms
aperture, slit, crack, hole, opening, groove, notch
1.1A groove or channel into which something fits or in which something works, such as one in the head of a screw: a screwdriver fitted into the slot...
- It's certainly usable, but maybe having slots instead of screw holes for more flexibility when mounting would have been better.
- When placed into a slot that fits the screw's groove and shape, this allows for rotary motion to be converted into forward or backward motion.
- It's easy to find a bit that fits the screw slot properly.
2An allotted place in an arrangement or scheme such as a broadcasting schedule: a late-night television slot landing slots at Heathrow airport...
- The subject of no fewer than three slots on television news bulletins on Thursday night, it was an unprecedented achievement for an editor demanding his paper gets talked about.
- The BBC is to place greater emphasis on foreign affairs programming with the announcement of funding for more commissions, to be broadcast in prime-time slots.
- In another change from the usual pattern, the lectures will be broadcast in a morning slot at 9.00 am (with a repeat in the evening).
Synonyms
spot, time, period;
place, position, niche, space, footprint
informal window
verb (slots, slotting, slotted) [with object and adverbial of direction]
1Place (an object) into a slot, typically one specifically designed to receive it: he slotted a cassette into the tape machine the plates come in sections that can be slotted together...
- This is what a new £7.4million extension to Bradford Royal Infirmary will look like when the prefabricated sections are slotted together.
- South Lakeland residents are being urged to slot their coins in the collecting tins of the Royal British Legion to invest in a poppy to wear with pride.
- The best outcome would be encouragement of a view of education which placed more emphasis on drawing people out (which is what the Latin educare means) and less on slotting them in to jobs.
Synonyms
insert, put, place, fit, slide, slip
1.1 [no object] Be placed or able to be placed into a slot: the processors will slot into a personal computer...
- Hakkinen, who started from third position, quickly slotted behind Schumacher, both avoiding the pile-up drama going on behind them.
- Anyway, we placed the tin full of snow on the kitchen table and I carefully spooned some out onto a blank slide which I then slotted under the microscope lens.
- Into this you can slot 35 mm slides and negatives (two at a time) to transfer to your computer for posterity, or print out for all to enjoy.
1.2British informal (Of a soccer player) score (a goal) with a precise shot: he slotted in the opening goal...
- The Barcelona superstar slotted his fifth goal of the finals seconds after a brilliant run by Ronaldinho.
- He took his time, looked up and waited for the goalkeeper to move before slotting a low right-footed shot past the goalkeeper.
- The Livingston defence were caught flat-footed, allowing the Croatian to home in on goal before slotting the ball past the advancing McKenzie.
1.3 [no object] (slot in/into) (Of a person) fit easily into (a new role or situation): employers look for someone who will slot into the office culture...
- Up against a nation of multi - million pound players, I think the Scotland captain more than held his own and looked like he could have easily have slotted into the Italian team without looking out of place.
- A bewildering game plan had players slotting in and out of different roles, and they spent more time in the first half trying to work out where they should be than tackling the opposition.
- In part, this was the natural reaction of so many women who were slotted into traditional roles without being consulted, or paid less in the workplace for equal effort.
1.4 [with object] (slot someone/thing in) Manage to find a time or opportunity to deal with someone or something: I can slot you in at 3.15, if that works for you...
- He'll always slot you in, but I think perhaps he doesn't give himself enough time for reflection.
- If you call us on the morning of the day you need to come in - we're open from 8am - we'll try and slot you in then.
- It's an odd time to slot him in.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'slight depression running down the middle of the chest', surviving as a Scots term): from Old French esclot, of obscure origin.
Rhymes
slot3
/slɒt/noun (usually slots)
The track of a deer, as visible in soft ground.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Old French esclot 'hoof print of a horse', probably from Old Norse slóth 'trail'; compare with sleuth.