slot
slot — noun
1. a long thin opening in a surface, made so that a coin, a card, or the edge of an
a long thin opening in a surface, made so that a coin, a card, or the edge of another object can be placed into it and held in position
Iris slid the coin into the slot on the vending machine.
slot + on + machine surface location
The thin metal piece clicked as it entered the narrow slot in the lock.
A slot at the top of the mailbox let letters drop inside.
slot + at + opening location
Yan cut a slot into the wooden board so the shelf would fit.
- coin slot
- card slot
- mail slot
- narrow slot
- slot on
- slot in
Grammar Patterns
slot + preposition (in/on)
2. a set period of time reserved for a specific programme, event, or activity withi
a set period of time reserved for a specific programme, event, or activity within a larger schedule
The radio station gave the morning show a two-hour slot.
[duration] + slot — fixed time allocation
Yael's favourite programme has moved to a later time slot this season.
time slot — common compound noun
The conference organisers reserved a slot for each speaker after lunch.
Viewers complained when the news slot was cut to just fifteen minutes.
- time slot
- broadcast slot
- prime-time slot
- two-hour slot
- slot for
Grammar Patterns
a/an + [time length] + slot
slot + for + [event]
Usage Note
Often used with broadcast or event scheduling. 'Time slot' is a common compound noun.
Common Mistakes
3. an available period of time for a meeting, service, or delivery that can be book
an available period of time for a meeting, service, or delivery that can be booked in advance
The clinic offered Rohan an appointment slot at three o'clock on Tuesday.
appointment slot — common in healthcare scheduling
Lakshmi booked a delivery slot for her groceries between five and seven.
delivery slot — common in retail logistics
All the morning slots for driving tests were already taken by other students.
Sari called the dentist to find a free slot later in the week.
- book a slot
- reserve a slot
- free slot
- appointment slot
- delivery slot
- morning slot
- appointment
refers to the meeting itself rather than the available time
- booking
the arrangement itself, not the time period
- opening
emphasises that the time is available and unfilled
Grammar Patterns
book/reserve + a + slot
slot + for + [service/person]
Usage Note
Common with booking verbs: 'book a slot', 'reserve a slot', 'find a slot'. Frequently used for appointments, deliveries, and service reservations.
4. in ice hockey, the central space on the ice just before the goal, where attackin
in ice hockey, the central space on the ice just before the goal, where attacking players aim to shoot
The centre skated into the slot and fired a shot past the goalie.
into the slot — player movement
Coaches teach players to move into the slot for a better scoring chance.
Quinn defended the slot fiercely, blocking every pass that came near.
A player standing in the slot can tip the puck into the goal.
in the slot — position on the rink
- the slot
- skate into the slot
- in the slot
- the high slot
- the low slot
- scoring area
a more general description of the slot's function
- crease area
the crease is a specific zone that overlaps with the slot, but they are different zones
Grammar Patterns
the + slot
in/into + the + slot
Usage Note
Technical term in ice hockey — unfamiliar to general audiences. Used almost exclusively by players, coaches, and commentators.
5. the gap along an offensive formation in American football, located between the l
the gap along an offensive formation in American football, located between the last lineman and the widest receiver and used for short passing routes
Emily ran a sharp route through the slot and caught the pass.
through the slot — running pattern
Tendai lined up in the slot, ready to sprint past the defender.
line up in the slot — starting formation
A fast receiver in the slot can slip past defenders for a long gain.
The coach moved Ziad to the slot position because of his quick turns.
slot position — role in offensive formation
- slot receiver
- slot position
- in the slot
- line up in the slot
- through the slot
- slot area
a slightly more explicit version of the same term
- slot position
the role or spot rather than the physical space
Grammar Patterns
the + slot
in/into + the + slot
Usage Note
Technical term in American football — unfamiliar to audiences outside North America. Often used in compounds 'slot receiver' and 'slot position'.
6. a coin-operated gambling machine that pays out winnings based on combinations of
a coin-operated gambling machine that pays out winnings based on combinations of symbols, usually operated by pulling a lever or pressing a button
Yan pulled the lever on the slot machine and watched the symbols spin.
slot machine + lever — traditional mechanism
Eliska won fifty dollars from a slot machine at the corner store.
Most modern slot machines use a touchscreen instead of a handle.
The flashing lights of the slot machines filled the casino floor.
slot machine — common shortened form 'the slots'
- slot machine
- play the slots
- pull the lever
- hit the jackpot
- one-armed bandit
colloquial and slightly old-fashioned; refers to the single lever
- fruit machine
British term, especially for machines showing fruit symbols
Grammar Patterns
a + slot (machine)
play + the + slots
Usage Note
Often shortened to 'the slots' in informal speech. Primarily associated with casinos and gambling.
Common Mistakes
7. a position or role that someone occupies within an organization, team, or system
a position or role that someone occupies within an organization, team, or system, especially one that is available to be filled
Iris finally got a slot on the board of the community centre.
slot + on + committee/board
The tournament has one remaining slot for a team from Southeast Asia.
remaining slot — availability
Joaquín applied for a teaching slot at the new international school.
The company created a new slot for a senior designer in the marketing team.
- available slot
- fill a slot
- open slot
- slot in the team
- create a slot
Grammar Patterns
a + slot + in/on/at + [organization/team]
Usage Note
Common in recruitment, team selection, and organisational contexts. Often used with 'available', 'open', 'fill', or 'create'.
Common Mistakes
slot — verb
1. to place an object into a groove or opening that fits its shape, or to connect t
to place an object into a groove or opening that fits its shape, or to connect two pieces by lining up matching slots
The metal bracket slots neatly into the groove on the frame.
slots into — intransitive, describing fit
Yael slotted the memory card into the side of her laptop.
These puzzle pieces slot together perfectly without any glue.
slot together — reciprocal intransitive
The shelf slotted into place on the brackets attached to the wall.
- slot into
- slot together
- slot in
- slot neatly
- slot perfectly
- pull out
removing something from a slot or groove
Grammar Patterns
slot + object + into + [slot/position]
slot + together/into + place
Usage Note
Often used with the particles 'in', 'into', or 'together'. Can be transitive (slot something into) or intransitive (slot into place / slot together). Frequently in passive or describing-fit constructions.
Common Mistakes
2. in soccer and hockey, to strike the ball or puck into the goal with careful accu
in soccer and hockey, to strike the ball or puck into the goal with careful accuracy and control
Rohan slotted the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.
slot + ball + past + into — goal sequence
With a quick strike, Lakshmi slotted the puck into the top right area.
The forward slotted home from close range after a clever pass.
slot home — colloquial verb phrase
Quinn slotted a free kick over the wall and into the top corner.
- slot home
- slot the ball
- slot past the keeper
- slot into the corner
Grammar Patterns
slot + ball/puck + into/past + goal/keeper
slot + home
Usage Note
Common in British football (soccer) commentary. Usually describes a skillful or precise finish and is rare in casual conversation.
Word family
- slot machinenounB1
- time slotnounB1
- slottedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
'Slot' and 'time slot' are largely interchangeable, though 'time slot' is more explicit and common in broadcasting. 'Window' suggests a limited open period with firm start and end times, often used for deliveries or appointments ('a two-hour delivery window'). 'Space' is more general and can refer to any available capacity, not necessarily time-bound ('is there space in the afternoon?'). 'Slot' implies a precise, pre-arranged position in a schedule. Example: 'Call us if you want a time slot between three and five.' vs 'The delivery window is only one hour long.' vs 'I have space in my calendar on Thursday.'
Common collocations
Etymology
Slot entered English in the 1300s, from the Old French 'esclot', meaning the hollow space between the breastbone and the collarbone. By the 1500s it was used for any hollow or groove in a surface. The meaning of 'a scheduled time' developed in the early 1900s, based on the idea of a space in a timetable. The slot machine sense followed in the late 1800s, named after the coin slot in the front of the machine.