A narrow opening or slit, often used for receiving coins or papers. Also called a hole, groove, or channel. He dropped a coin into the slot and dialled.

A position, usually a job or a place in a sequence or series. Also, a time to do something. You can only fit so much work into a day, so you have to prioritize and pick and choose your slots.

The coveted seat on an airplane or train is not available at the moment because the crew needs to fit in a maintenance task. It is frustrating, especially if you’ve checked in on time, cleared security, made it to the gate and lined up to board, only to hear the captain say they are waiting for “a slot.”

In football, a slot is the area between the outside wide receivers and the offensive linemen. A player lines up in the slot during passing plays, running routes that correspond with those of the other wide receivers in an effort to confuse the defense. Because of their proximity to the line of scrimmage, slot receivers have an increased risk of injury.

In a computer, a space or position within a file that holds data or information, such as a page in an application program or a storage location on a disk drive. The term is also a technical reference to the relationship between a typewriter’s pin and its slot in a typewheel.

On a slot machine, a narrow opening in the face of the machine into which a coin or paper ticket with a barcode is inserted. The machine then spins the reels and pays out credits based on the combination of symbols that appear on the pay line. The symbols vary with each machine, but classic symbols include fruit, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Most slots have a theme and bonus features that align with the theme.

Slot machines can be found in casinos and other gambling establishments, as well as on some cruise ships. In addition to traditional reels, many modern slot machines use digital technology and have video screens. Some even have themes based on TV shows and movies.

A key feature of any slot machine is the return to player (RTP) percentage, which tells you how much you can expect to win in the long run if you keep betting. While this number doesn’t account for luck, it is a good indicator of how much you should expect to win on a given bet size. While you can win big, you should always play within your bankroll. If you want to maximize your chances of winning, stick to small bet sizes and look for games with the highest RTP. This way, you can make the most of your money and have fun while you’re at it!