A narrow opening, groove, or slit. A slit is usually longer and deeper than a hole. A slot can be found in wood or metal, for example, a door bolt or a slit in an aircraft fuselage. A slot can also be an allotment of time or space, such as a takeoff or landing slot granted by an air-traffic control agency.
A machine that uses a random number generator to determine winning combinations of symbols on its reels. Some slots have a fixed pay table, while others award credits based on the number of matching symbols displayed on a single pay line. Some slots offer bonus levels and special game features, such as Wilds that can substitute for other symbols to create winning lines.
Modern slot machines use a random number generator (RNG) to ensure that each spin is independent of the last, and that the odds of winning are equal for all players, regardless of the size of their bet. They can be operated with cash or, in the case of “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with barcodes. In both cases, the ticket must be properly inserted in order to activate the machine. Once the machine is active, a button or lever (either physical or on a touchscreen) can be pressed to start the spinning reels. In some types of slot machine, a player can earn additional credits by pressing the “autoplay” button, which allows the machine to make multiple spins without the need for the user to press the “spin” button.
In electromechanical slot machines, a malfunction that prevents the machine from paying out is called a “tilt.” This term derives from the fact that early electromechanical machines had tilt switches, which would make or break a circuit and trigger an alarm if the machine was tilted or otherwise tampered with. While most modern machines do not have tilt switches, any kind of technical fault—such as a door switch in the wrong position or a reel motor out of balance—can be referred to as a “tilt.”
The job or position of a newspaper’s chief copy editor. Also, the rim of a semicircular copy desk.
A narrow notch in the tips of certain bird’s primaries, which helps to maintain a steady flow of air over the wings during flight.
You checked in on time, made your way through security and the gate, struggled with the overhead lockers and settled into your seat – only to hear the captain say, “We’re waiting for a slot.” What does this mean, and why can’t we just take off? Central flow management is already saving time, money and fuel on some routes, but it’s only just beginning to be used worldwide. The benefits of this approach will be even greater as it becomes more widely used. By reducing the amount of time and fuel we waste waiting for slots, central flow management could have a major impact on global carbon emissions. And it could save a lot of frustration, too!
