A narrow opening or groove in something, such as a door, window, or coin tray. Also: a position or time in a schedule or program, especially one reserved for an aircraft to take off or land. Also: a designated area in which an activity may take place, such as a lane in a racetrack or a specific seat in a theater. The term slot is also used in aviation to refer to the distance between the tips of the primaries on an airplane’s wings, which helps to maintain a steady airflow over the wing during flight. Also: a narrow notch in the primary wings of certain birds that allows them to glide.
If you’re playing in a casino with a lot of people, try to limit yourself to the number of machines that you can watch at once. It’s easy to pump money into multiple slots in a row, but you don’t want to get distracted and end up missing the next big jackpot.
In football, a player who is stationed on the line of scrimmage or near the ball carrier is referred to as a slot receiver. These players are typically shorter than traditional wide receivers, making them easier for defensive backs to cover. However, their positioning near the center of the field can make them vulnerable to big hits from defenders on running plays. This makes it important for slot receivers to run routes that correspond with the other wide receivers in their team’s formation.