slot

[ slot ]

/ slɒt /

noun

a narrow, elongated depression, groove, notch, slit, or aperture, especially a narrow opening for receiving or admitting something, as a coin or a letter.

a place or position, as in a sequence or series: The program received a new time slot on the broadcasting schedule.

Linguistics. (especially in tagmemics) a position having a specific grammatical function within a construction into which any one of a set of morphemes or morpheme sequences can be fit.Compare filler(def 9).

an assignment or job opening; position: I applied for the slot in management training.

Journalism.

the interior opening in a copy desk, occupied by the chief copy editor.
the job or position of chief copy editor: He had the slot at the Gazette for 20 years.Compare rim(def 7).

an allocated, scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by an airport or air-traffic authority: 40 more slots for the new airline at U.S. airports.

Informal. slot machine(def 1).

Aeronautics. See under slat¹(def 2).

Ornithology. 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 the wings.

Ice Hockey. an unmarked area near the front of an opponent's goal that affords a vantage for an attacking player.

Computers. expansion slot.

verb (used with object), slot·ted, slot·ting.

to provide with a slot or slots; make a slot in.

to place or fit into a slot: We've slotted his appointment for four o'clock.

verb (used without object), slot·ted, slot·ting.

to fit or be placed in a slot.

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anchorite

a granular metamorphic rock.

a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.

a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.

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Origin of slot

1300–50; Middle English: the hollow of the breastbone < Middle French esclot < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM slot

un·slot·ted, adjective

Words nearby slot

slopwork, slorm, slosh, sloshed, sloshy, slot, slot aerial, slot car, slot machine, slot man, slot racer

Definition for slot (2 of 3)

slot²

[ slot ]

/ slɒt /

noun

the track or trail of a deer or other animal, as shown by the marks of the feet.

a track, trace, or trail of something.

Origin of slot

1565–75; < Anglo-French, Middle French esclot the hoofprint of a horse, probably < Old Norse slōth track, trail; see sleuthhound

Definition for slot (3 of 3)

slat¹

[ slat ]

/ slæt /

noun

a long thin, narrow strip of wood, metal, etc., used as a support for a bed, as one of the horizontal laths of a Venetian blind, etc.

Aeronautics. a control surface along the leading edge of a wing that can be extended forward to create a gap (slot) to improve airflow.

slats, Slang.

the ribs.
the buttocks.
(initial capital letter) a nickname for a tall, slender man.

verb (used with object), slat·ted, slat·ting.

to furnish or make with slats

Origin of slat

1350–1400; Middle English sclat, slatt a slate < Middle French esclat splinter, fragment; see éclat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for slot

He said Moran had expected to be muffled by state observers when he did a slot on their show.
Igor Meerson, Russia’s Funniest Export|Nico Hines|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The German government paid $16 billion to make sure there would be a slot for every child.
Free Market Failure: Raising a Kid Is a Rigged Game in the USA|Monica Potts|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And that enabled me to slot in the shooting of the first two episodes [of The Divide] in that.
Tony Goldwyn Tackles Political Scandal Again on ‘The Divide’|Jason Lynch|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
(Mulgrew could actually nudge out Chlumsky and land that sixth slot).
Emmys 2014: Who Will and Who Should Be Nominated|Kevin Fallon|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This slot harks back to what Walters is most celebrated and venerated for—her interviews.
Don’t Remember Barbara Walters for ‘The View’|Tim Teeman|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Advanced seams on cloth and silk: Flannel seam, slot seam, umbrella seam.
The Making of a Trade School|Mary Schenck Woolman
A port, or slot, is cut near the top on opposite sides of each of the shells.
The Gasoline Motor|Harold Whiting Slauson
Then a slot was cut in the side to receive a pin inserted in a shaft made to fit the horizontal hole.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
With a faint click, a loaded tray passed through a slot in the rear wall of Albert Johnson's cell.
Insidekick|Jesse Franklin Bone
The mast goes through the forward end of the slot, and when it is in use the slot is filled up with a heavy slab.
Ancient and Modern Ships.|George C. V. Holmes

British Dictionary definitions for slot (1 of 5)

slot¹

/ (slɒt) /

noun

an elongated aperture or groove, such as one in a vending machine for inserting a coin

an air passage in an aerofoil to direct air from the lower to the upper surface, esp the gap formed behind a slat

a vertical opening between the leech of a foresail and a mast or the luff of another sail through which air spills from one against the other to impart forward motion

informal a place in a series or scheme

verb slots, slotting or slotted

(tr) to furnish with a slot or slots

(usually foll by in or into) to fit or adjust in a slot

informal to situate or be situated in a series or scheme

Derived forms of slot

slotter, noun

Word Origin for slot

C13: from Old French esclot the depression of the breastbone, of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for slot (2 of 5)

slot²

/ (slɒt) /

noun

the trail of an animal, esp a deer

Word Origin for slot

C16: from Old French esclot horse's hoof-print, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sloth track; see sleuth

British Dictionary definitions for slot (3 of 5)

slat¹

/ (slæt) /

noun

a narrow thin strip of wood or metal, as used in a Venetian blind, etc

a movable or fixed auxiliary aerofoil attached to the leading edge of an aircraft wing to increase lift, esp during landing and takeoff

verb slats, slatting or slatted

(tr) to provide with slats

Word Origin for slat

C14: from Old French esclat splinter, from esclater to shatter

British Dictionary definitions for slot (4 of 5)

slat²

/ (slæt) dialect /

verb slats, slatting or slatted

(tr) to throw violently; fling carelessly

(intr) to flap violently

noun

a sudden blow

Word Origin for slat

C13: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse, Icelandic sletta to slap

British Dictionary definitions for slot (5 of 5)

slat³

/ (slæt) /

noun

Irish a spent salmon

Word Origin for slat

C19: of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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WORD OF THE DAY

slot

noun

verb (used with object), slot·ted, slot·ting.

verb (used without object), slot·ted, slot·ting.

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Origin of slot

OTHER WORDS FROM slot

Words nearby slot

Definition for slot (2 of 3)

noun

Origin of slot

Definition for slot (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), slat·ted, slat·ting.

Origin of slat

Words related to slot

Example sentences from the Web for slot

British Dictionary definitions for slot (1 of 5)

noun

verb slots, slotting or slotted

Derived forms of slot

Word Origin for slot

British Dictionary definitions for slot (2 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for slot

British Dictionary definitions for slot (3 of 5)

noun

verb slats, slatting or slatted

Word Origin for slat

British Dictionary definitions for slot (4 of 5)

verb slats, slatting or slatted

noun

Word Origin for slat

British Dictionary definitions for slot (5 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for slat