A slot is a narrow opening, especially in machinery, for receiving something, such as a coin or letter. The word can also refer to a time period, as in “I have a slot from 11:00 to 12:00.” The etymology of the word is unknown; it may be related to the verb to slot, meaning to fit snugly or smoothly into place. A car seat belt, for example, slots easily into its slot.
In computers, a slot (also called an expansion slot) is a set of pinholes that can accept circuitry to add a specialized capability, such as video acceleration or disk drive control. Almost all desktop computers have slots for adding such capabilities.
When it comes to penny slots, the jingling jangling and profusion of colors will draw players like bees to honey. But before you play, make sure you understand the rules of the game and set a spending budget for yourself. It’s important to protect your bankroll and remember that the casino has a much greater chance of winning than you do.
In football, a slot receiver is a smaller receiver who can stretch the defense vertically and run shorter routes on the route tree, such as slants or quick outs. Slot receivers are becoming more prevalent in the NFL as teams look to maximize their quarterback’s skill set. Often, they are more effective than traditional boundary receivers who run longer routes downfield.