A narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin or letter. Also, a position or spot in a plan or schedule.
The slot is a key part of an aircraft’s flow management system. In Europe, for example, central flow management has resulted in significant savings in flight delays and fuel burn as well as significant environmental benefits.
Slot definitions and usage vary by region. Here are some examples from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
1: A narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, like a coin or letter. Also, slang term for a position or spot in a plan, schedule or other activity.
2: A position or spot in a team’s defense, particularly field hockey and ice hockey. The area between the face-off circles on an ice rink. The slot is the area most often targeted by defenders in press coverage, and must be strong to defend both the FB (field hockey) and the TE (ice hockey).
A slot is an opening or passage into which something may be inserted. Originally, it was a hole in a door or wall through which a bolt might pass. Modern slots are openings into which coins or tokens can be inserted to activate machines that pay out credits according to the machine’s paytable. Some slots accept paper tickets that carry cash value, called TITO tickets. Players insert these tickets in a slot and, when they hit a winning combination, withdraw the winnings.
While there are many different types of slot games, most have a common theme. They are generally based on a story or characters, and the symbols and themes are aligned with that theme. Some are themed to specific locations or events, while others are based on television shows or movies.
For generations, slot machine players have been told that maximum bets usually yield the highest payback percentages. This is true for traditional three-reel slots, but it is not always the case with video or online slots. In those cases, the high payouts are not necessarily due to the fact that a player has bet max coins; they are usually due to incentives built into the game’s pay table. Some slots also feature scatter pays, which award credits when two or more designated symbols appear anywhere on the screen, even if they are not on the same payline. This can add up to big wins! In addition, the number of paylines in a slot machine can vary. Some slots have fewer than five reels, while others have as many as 10.