A slot is a narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin or letter. A slot on a computer is an opening into which you can insert a circuit board that adds capacity or provides specialized capability. A slot is not to be confused with bays, which are sites in the computer into which you can fit disk drives or other hardware devices.
An air traffic management slot, issued by EUROCONTROL as Network Manager, gives an airline permission to operate at a congested airport at specific times, which reduces congestion and saves fuel (which means fewer flights can use the same runways at the same time). These slots are traded, and can be extremely valuable.
In a slot game, the symbols that appear on the reels determine your winning sequence. A slot pay table lists all the possible payouts based on these symbol combinations and shows how much you can win for each spin of the reels. A slot machine may also have a second, smaller payout window that is activated when you hit the service button. This is often referred to as the candle or tower light.
In sports, a slot is the position on a team’s offense that is closest to the quarterback and usually used to receive passes. A good example is Darren Sproles in the NFL. Unlike other wide receivers, slotbacks rarely block or run the ball and are more likely to receive short or medium-range passing touchdowns.