A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in the keyway of a lock or the slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: a position, place, or time; an assigned or scheduled one, as in an airplane’s slot for takeoff or landing: “It takes a lot of discipline to keep your schedule on track, but the rewards are huge.” (From Webster’s New World College Dictionary)

An assigned time for an aircraft to take off or land at an airport, granted by the air-traffic authority. Aircraft slots are limited, and they are based on the capacity of runways and the need to allow other planes to land at the same time.

In the past, electromechanical slot machines had tilt switches that made or broke a circuit when they were tilted, causing them to break down or stop working completely. Modern machines are generally based on microprocessors, and they can have an error message displayed on the screen or a mechanical component that stops the reels when it is tampered with.

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 their wings. (From Wikipedia)

A player’s position in a game, often used to denote their role in the formation of a team. For example, a defensive back plays in the slot behind the linebackers and safeties, while an offensive tackle or center play in the middle of the line. A slot can also be a specialized position, as in a specialist goalie.

On passing plays, slot receivers usually align in the middle of the field. They are shorter and faster than traditional wide receivers, and they can help to confuse the defense by running routes that correspond with those of other players in the formation. They can also act as a ball carrier on pitch plays, reverses, and end-arounds, in which case they must be able to handle blockers well enough to protect the quarterback.

A percentage of money paid out to a slot machine over the long term, compared to the amount that is wagered on it. Slots with high volatility tend to be slow to pay out winning combinations but, when they do, the amounts are usually large. The payout percentage for a given slot machine is usually indicated on its pay table, and it may be helpful to choose those with higher returns. Those with lower return-to-player percentages should be avoided, because they will lose your money more quickly.