A slot is a narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in machinery, a slit for a coin in a vending machine, or a time-slot on a calendar. The phrase can also refer to a position in a group, series, or sequence: The book was put into the slot on the shelf.
The slots on a motherboard are designed to hold expansion cards such as an ISA slot, PCI slot, or AGP slot. Each one is assigned a specific number to indicate its location. There are many different types of slots, and each type has its own characteristics. For example, the ISA slot is often used for expansion memory, while the PCI and AGP slots are typically used for hard disks.
In an electronic slot machine, a player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into the designated slot and activates it by pressing a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen). The reels then spin and stop to rearrange the symbols. If a winning combination of symbols is lined up on a payline, the player wins credits based on the amount they have bet previously.
In ice hockey, the slot is the area in front of an opponent’s net that provides the best opportunity for a wrist shot without a deflection. Defensemen try to prevent scoring from the low slot by laying out big hits to small wingers and centers who attempt to shoot.