A narrow opening or groove in a machine or container, especially one used for accepting coins. Also: a position within a series or sequence, as in “He was slotted into the second-string role.”
A device on an airplane that creates an air gap between the main wing and an auxiliary airfoil to provide lift. Aircraft slots are used in the United States and around the world to manage air traffic at busy airports by limiting takeoffs and landings on certain days during a specific time period. The slots are also used to prevent repeated delays due to too many planes trying to take off or land at the same time.
In football, a position that is often referred to as the “slot receiver.” A slot receiver is usually smaller and quicker than traditional wide receivers. He typically lines up in the middle of the field and is responsible for running precise routes. He must be very fast to beat coverage and is often targeted by the defense on passing plays. In addition to his receiving skills, the slot receiver must be able to block for running plays.
The slot is a crucial part of any offense and has been growing in importance in recent years. In fact, some teams have virtually their entire offense centered on the slot receiver. The position has been exemplified by players such as Wayne Chrebet (who has had over 5,800 receiving yards and 41 touchdowns in his career), Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, and Charlie Joiner.
In computer programming, a variable-length unit of memory that stores the value of a variable when it is stored in a program or process. This storage space is freed or reclaimed when that program or process executes. Variables in the code are accessed via the variable name, which is defined in the program’s source code. This allows the variable to be re-used in another section of the same program or in another program that calls the same function.
In gambling, a slot is the amount of money that a player can bet per spin on a particular machine. While it’s possible to win large amounts of money playing slots, it’s important to know your bankroll and how much you can afford to lose before you start betting. It’s also a good idea to check the pay table of each machine to see what prizes are available and which bet sizes correspond to them. In addition, some machines have maximum jackpot amounts that can’t be exceeded. You can find this information in the machine’s manual or through a ‘help’ screen on its touch screens. A slot attendant can also answer any questions you may have.
