slot

SaySLOT/slɑt/UK/slɒt/

23 meanings of slot

1
nouncountable
A long, narrow hole or cut that something can be put or slid into.
Like the thin opening on a piggy bank where you drop coins.
Put the coin in the slot to start the machine.
The card fits neatly into a thin slot on the side.
Similaropening, slit, hole, groove, aperture
2
nouncountable
A time given to someone or something in a schedule, like a TV show's time or a plane's takeoff time.
Like a saved seat just for you at a busy time.
The dentist gave me a slot at three o'clock.
Each speaker gets a ten-minute slot at the meeting.
UsageSay a time slot or a free slot.
Similarspot, window, time, opening, space
Note
3
gambling machinenouncolloquialpluralabbreviationclipping
Short for slot machine: a gambling machine that may pay out money when spinning symbols stop in a winning pattern.
She spent all her coins on the slot near the entrance.
The casino floor buzzed with rows of flashing slots.
UsageSay play the slots.
4
verbtransitive
To give someone or something a set place in a schedule.
Like fitting a name into an empty space on a chart.
The teacher slotted me into the morning class.
They slot new workers into open shifts each week.
UsageSay slot something into a plan.
Similarschedule, fit, place, squeeze, book
5
verbtransitive
To put something into a narrow opening or into the space where it fits.
Like putting a book back in the right spot on a shelf.
She slotted the books back onto the shelf.
Slot the batteries into the back of the remote.
UsageSay slot it into place.
Similarinsert, fit, slide, put, place
Oppositeremove, extract
Note
6
nouncountable
A space in a computer's memory or storage for holding one kind of thing.
Like a numbered locker that holds just one item.
The program saved each file in its own slot.
The table has ten slots for storing user records.
Similarlocation, cell, position
Note
7
verbtransitive
To cut a narrow groove or opening into something.
Like cutting a thin gap in cardboard so another piece can slide in.
The carpenter slotted the wood to fit the joint.
Machines slot the metal panels before assembly.
Similargroove, notch, slit, cut, rout
8
American footballnouncountable
In football, the open area between the end of the line and the outside receiver.
Like the gap between two people in a line where someone else can squeeze in.
The quick player lined up in the slot.
He caught the short pass from the slot near the line.
Note
9
kick a goalverbcolloquialtransitive
To kick the ball between the posts and score a goal.
Like dropping a coin perfectly into a narrow gap.
He slotted the ball straight between the posts for the win.
She can slot a goal from almost any angle.
Similarkick, convert, score
Oppositemiss
Note
10
hockeynouncountable
In hockey, the space right in front of the goal where players try to score.
Like the best spot to stand right in front of a goal to score.
She scored from right in the slot.
The defender cleared him out of the slot.
Note

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Origins

Meanings 1–14

The word came into Middle English as slot from Old French esclot. That French word likely came from an Old Norse word meaning "track." When we talk about gambling, slot is short for "slot machine."

Meanings 15–17

Middle English slot came from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch slot. These go back to older Germanic words that were linked to a verb meaning "to lock."

slot

23 meanings of slot

Less common meanings

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Origins