A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in a keyway in a piece of machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: the position in a group, series, or sequence; a berth or seat. (Old English: sleutane, from Proto-Germanic *slutana, from Latin sleutanus.)
A space or position that can be filled, as in a job, an assignment, or a time period: She slotted into the chair easily.
In a video game, the space in which a character moves on screen: She moved into the slot that would allow her to attack the castle.
The number of coins that a player can win when the winning combinations of symbols appear on the pay line of a slot machine. This amount is determined by the slot machine’s pay table, which lists the symbols and their values. Some slot machines have multiple pay lines, which can run up, down, sideways, or diagonally.
A system for organizing and monitoring deadlines and meeting times with clients. For example, a health care provider may use slots to organize urgent visits, routine check-ups and consultations with new patients. Incorporated in scheduling software and applications, this method of organizing client appointments can help improve engagement and increase efficiency by ensuring that staff members are aware of important updates and meetings. It can also improve communication between staff members, especially when multiple people are working with the same clients.