A slot is a narrow opening, as in a door or container. To slot something is to place it in a specific position within a group, series, or sequence, such as when you put your car seat belt into the slot in the buckle. You can also use this word to refer to a position of employment or a place in a queue. For example, you can say that someone has the slot of chief copy editor.
The smallest unit of an electric typewriter or similar device that contains letters, numbers, and symbols for recording characters and phrases on a ribbon. In computers, a slot is a set of pinholes in a motherboard that accepts expansion cards that add functionality, such as video acceleration or disk drive control. A slot may be configured as active, passive, or a combination of both.
In casino gaming, a slot machine is a mechanical device that uses reels to determine a winner by using random number generator (RNG) software. Once the machine is triggered, it executes its program to set the reels and display winning or losing information on its screen. The reels are then spun to produce a three-number sequence, and the computer compares each of these to the internal table of stops on a slot reel. If the sequence matches the entry in the table, the machine pays out the winning amount.
In computing, a slot or expansion slot is a location on a PC motherboard into which an add-in card can be inserted to provide additional capabilities, such as video acceleration or audio playback. Almost all desktop PCs come with one or more slots.