slot

[ slot ]

/ slɒt /

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See synonyms for: slot / slots / slotted / slotting on Thesaurus.com

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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Origin of slot

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone,” from Old French esclot; further origin unclear

OTHER WORDS FROM slot

un·slot·ted, adjective

Other definitions for slot (2 of 2)

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

First recorded in 1565–75; from Anglo-French, Old French esclot “the hoofprint of a horse,” probably from Old Norse slōth “track, trail”; see also sleuthhound

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use slot in a sentence

Paid listings will continue to appear in ad slots and will operate in the same way as Shopping ads do today.
Google Shopping now free globally|Barry Schwartz|September 30, 2020|Search Engine Land
There were several correct answers here — more on that in a second — one of which was slots 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12, found by solver Alicia Zamudio.
Can You Save Some Cold Pizza?|Zach Wissner-Gross|September 25, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Eighteen of the 36 shots Khudobin faced came from below the top of the circle, and many of those came from the slot.
The Dallas Stars Are Putting Their Regular-Season Shortcomings Behind Them|Terrence Doyle|September 21, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The company’s strong track record in this vitally important field earned it a slot on Fortune’s 2020 Change the World list.
‘We’re racing against the clock’: The CEO of the Serum Institute of India on his company’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign|Erika Fry|September 21, 2020|Fortune

Nevertheless, the period of experimentation has paved the way for new ad slots and potential for more advertising as more live sport returns.
‘An unprecedented period of Darwinian experimentation’: As sports return, Twitter eyes ad boost|Seb Joseph|September 18, 2020|Digiday
Two and a Half Men will move from Mondays to Thursdays this fall, slotting in at 8:30 p.m. behind The Big Bang Theory.
TV Upfronts 2012: NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and the CW Announce Schedules|Jace Lacob, Maria Elena Fernandez|May 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It is very useful for slotting sheet brass and tubes, slotting small shafts, nicking screws, etc.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 312, December 24, 1881|Various
It may be too small now; there is not enough metal to clean up under the tools of the slotting- or shaping-machine.
Life in a Railway Factory|Alfred Williams
A similar and perhaps a better result may be obtained by slotting the hole through the nut as though for the reception of a key.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 433, April 19, 1884|Various
A much more usual method, however, is to employ slotting or keyway drills.
Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II|Joshua Rose
He rose and began slotting back the bolts, turning the big key.
The Rainbow|D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence

British Dictionary definitions for slot (1 of 2)

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 2)

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

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

slot

Origin of slot

OTHER WORDS FROM slot

Other definitions for slot (2 of 2)

Origin of slot

Words related to slot

How to use slot in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slot (1 of 2)

Derived forms of slot

Word Origin for slot

British Dictionary definitions for slot (2 of 2)

Word Origin for slot