A slot is a narrow notch, groove, or opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a keyway in a lock or a slit for a coin in a machine. A slot may also refer to a position in a group, series, sequence, or hierarchy. The term is derived from the Old French word esclot, meaning “a track or trail” and is cognate with the Old Norse word slod, meaning “track.”
A computer-controlled machine that converts coins or other tokens into game credits, spins the reels, and pays off winning combinations of symbols in a payline. Modern slot machines use internal computers to generate random numbers, which determine where the reels will stop when they come to a rest. The symbols used traditionally include stars, card suits, bars (the four of hearts is a popular symbol), numerals (1 through 7, a lucky seven is one of the most famous), and various pictured fruits (cherries, oranges, lemons, and watermelons) as well as the words jackpot and bar.
In computing, a slot is an allocation of resources to a task or application. For example, a CPU may have multiple slots, each of which can be assigned to run a particular program. These resources are allocated in accordance with the priority of the program, the capacity of the CPU itself, and other constraints. This process is called scheduling, and the allocation of resources to slots is an essential aspect of this process.
Many health care providers rely on time-based scheduling to set appointments with clients. This allows them to allocate a specific amount of time for each appointment type, such as urgent care or routine check-ups. This method can help healthcare organizations streamline their workflows and reduce costs by minimizing the number of missed appointments.
The term slot can also refer to the positioning of an object in a container, such as a car or truck. A vehicle’s cargo space is often divided into different compartments to allow for the storage of different types of items. The dimensions of these compartments can vary, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. For instance, some vehicles have larger cargo spaces than others.
A slot can also refer to a position in a sequence, series, or set. For example, a child can be placed in the third or fourth grade. The term can also refer to a position in an organization or hierarchy, such as a manager’s or employee’s job title or rank. This article uses the definition of slot as it appears in Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition, 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.