A slot is a thin opening or groove in something, especially one that can hold a coin. You can put letters and postcards through the mail slot at the post office. Another meaning of the word is an open position or time slot, such as one you can book a meeting with someone for.
A “slot” is also a feature of a video game that awards prizes to players who land certain combinations on the reels. These rewards can range from bonus games to progressive jackpots that increase in size as the player spins. Depending on the game, the pay table may be displayed either on the machine’s face or within a help menu. In older machines, the pay table was typically listed above and below the area containing the wheels, while modern video slots usually contain it within a help menu that opens when the player presses the question mark button.
In aviation, a slot is a specific authorization for an aircraft to take off or land at a particular airport during a specified time period. Air traffic controllers assign slots to individual flights to manage air traffic at busy airports and prevent repeated delays caused by too many planes trying to take off or land at the same time.
Slot receivers are an increasingly important part of the modern NFL offense, and it’s no wonder why: They provide quarterbacks with a versatile option when throwing the ball and allow the team to attack all three levels of defense simultaneously. Slot receivers are also important blockers on outside run plays, and they often play a similar role to wideouts when blocking for running backs.