A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in a door or the slot for a coin in a vending machine. Also: a position in a schedule or plan; an allotment, e.g., I have a two-hour slot at the copy desk.
A device that spins coins to form patterns on the coin’s surface, usually in a circular pattern, and then deposits the coin into a container.
The number of possible outcomes varies from slot to slot, but all slots have some combination of symbols and pay out when the player matches them in combinations. Many people believe that certain symbols are more likely to appear than others, and that the odds of winning increase with the size of the line value (or coin value). However, this is only partially true, and players can improve their chances by learning about the rules and features of a particular slot machine before playing it.
In aviation, a slot is the permission granted by air traffic control to a plane to take off or land at a specific time. This is one of the main tools used to prevent massive delays and fuel burn that result from too many flights trying to depart or land at busy airports. Since the introduction of central flow management in Europe, there have been huge savings in flight time and fuel costs. It is expected that slots will be introduced to more and more airports around the world.