A slot is an opening or groove in something, like a keyway or the slit for a coin in a vending machine. It can also refer to a position in a group or series, or an allocation of time or space. The word is also used as a verb, meaning to put something into a slot or a position. For example, you might say that someone “slotted in” as a substitute teacher.

The first recorded use of the word was in 1571, when it was applied to an opening in a door, a narrow gap or notch that allows something to pass through, such as a letter or postcard through the mail slot at the post office. Later, it came to mean a gap in an aircraft wing that supports the fuselage or tail surfaces. It can also refer to a compartment or slit in an airplane for passengers, cargo, or instruments. The term also can refer to a position in an organization or a hierarchy, as when a person is “in the slot.”

In a game of chance, a slot is a place where coins or tokens are dropped into a machine to activate the spinning reels and possibly win a prize. Depending on the rules of a particular slot, a player may be able to select the number of paylines and/or the amount they wish to wager per spin. The more paylines a slot has, the more possible combinations of symbols and the higher the chances of winning, but the spins will be more expensive.

It is common to see people playing penny slots at casinos or in their homes. These machines are a popular form of gambling that can be extremely addictive. According to research, people who play video poker and slot machines reach a debilitating level of involvement with gambling three times more rapidly than other casino games. Psychologists believe that it is the instant results and the high levels of dopamine triggered by these games that are addictive.

In a football match, the slot is the position of a receiver who catches the ball all over the field, so it’s hard to cover them without good athletic ability. This is why a great slot corner is so important in a defense.