slot
1 Americannoun
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a narrow, elongated depression, groove, notch, slit, or aperture, especially a narrow opening for receiving or admitting something, as a coin or a letter.
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a place or position, as in a sequence or series.
The program received a new time slot on the broadcasting schedule.
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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.
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an assignment or job opening; position.
I applied for the slot in management training.
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Journalism.
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the interior opening in a copy desk, occupied by the chief copy editor.
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the job or position of chief copy editor.
He had the slot at the Gazette for 20 years.
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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.
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Informal. slot machine.
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Aeronautics. slat12
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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.
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Ice Hockey. an unmarked area near the front of an opponent's goal that affords a vantage for an attacking player.
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Computers. expansion slot.
verb (used with object)
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to provide with a slot or slots; make a slot in.
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to place or fit into a slot.
We've slotted his appointment for four o'clock.
verb (used without object)
noun
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the track or trail of a deer or other animal, as shown by the marks of the feet.
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a track, trace, or trail of something.
noun
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an elongated aperture or groove, such as one in a vending machine for inserting a coin
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an air passage in an aerofoil to direct air from the lower to the upper surface, esp the gap formed behind a slat
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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
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informal a place in a series or scheme
verb
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(tr) to furnish with a slot or slots
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to fit or adjust in a slot
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informal to situate or be situated in a series or scheme
noun
Other Word Forms
- slotter noun
- unslotted adjective
Etymology
Origin of slot1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone,” from Old French esclot; further origin unclear
Origin of slot2
First recorded in 1565–75; from Anglo-French, Old French esclot “the hoofprint of a horse,” probably from Old Norse slōth “track, trail”; sleuthhound
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The law caught him: “a slot open, a cot waiting” in jail.
With 14 minutes to play, York took the chance to move more than a score ahead and Richardson slotted a simple drop-goal from 25 yards out.
From BBC
In one of the Super Bowl slots, a short man asks a representation of an AI assistant how to get six-pack abs.
From Los Angeles Times
“Three months out from the June primary, the top two slots in the gubernatorial race are up for grabs,” Mark Baldassare, PPIC’s survey director, said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times
Prophet Brown also could play outside if he doesn’t play in the slot.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
