A narrow notch or groove, as in a keyway in a piece of machinery or the slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also, a position in a group, series or sequence, as of seats at a table or places on an airplane or bus.
A slot is a specific location within an airplane, bus or train that can be reserved by a passenger. The reservation can be made either online or in person, and passengers must arrive early to ensure their slot. Airline passengers often choose to reserve seats in advance, even when they do not intend to fly, so that they can be sure of getting a seat at their preferred time and avoid long waits at the airport.
In computer science, a slot is a position in a container or data structure that can be filled or unfilled. A slot may hold a variable, value, or other data element. For example, a database could use a slot to store an entire table or record. A slot may also be used to store indexes or other data structures.
In football, a slot receiver is a smaller player who lines up wider than a boundary receiver and runs shorter routes on the route tree (such as slants). These players can be especially effective when opposing defenses focus on covering more space in the middle of the field, leaving them vulnerable to quick outs. Also known as Nickel backs, they are often paired with a bigger cornerback to create an intimidating duo.