slot Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
    • he developed a version of slot grammar
  2. noun a small slit (as for inserting a coin or depositing mail)
    • he put a quarter in the slot
  3. noun a time assigned on a schedule or agenda
    time slot.
    • the TV program has a new time slot
    • an aircraft landing slot
  4. noun a position in a hierarchy or organization
    • Bob Dylan occupied the top slot for several weeks
    • she beat some tough competition for the number one slot
  5. noun the trail of an animal (especially a deer)
    • he followed the deer's slot over the soft turf to the edge of the trees
  6. noun (computer) a socket in a microcomputer that will accept a plug-in circuit board
    expansion slot.
    • the PC had three slots for additional memory
  7. noun a slot machine that is used for gambling
    one-armed bandit.
    • they spend hours and hours just playing the slots
  8. verb assign a time slot
    • slot a television program

WordNet

Slot noun
Etymology
LG. & D. slot a lock, from a verb meaning to close., to shut, D. sluiten; akin to G. schliessen, OHG. sliozan, OFries. slta, and probably to L. claudere. Cf. Close, Sluice.
Definitions
  1. A broad, flat, wooden bar; a slat or sloat.
  2. A bolt or bar for fastening a door. Prov. Eng.
  3. A narrow depression, perforation, or aperture; esp., one for the reception of a piece fitting or sliding in it.
Slot transitive verb
Etymology
See Slot a bar.
Definitions
  1. To shut with violence; to slam; as, to slot a door. Obs. or Prov. Eng.
Slot noun
Etymology
Cf. Icel. sl, and E. sleuth.
Definitions
  1. The track of a deer; hence, a track of any kind. Milton.
    As a bloodhound follows the slot of a hurt deer. Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1913