slot
pronunciation
How to pronounce slot in British English:
UK [slɒt]
How to pronounce slot in American English:
US [slɑːt]
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- Noun:
- a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
- a small slit (as for inserting a coin or depositing mail)
- a time assigned on a schedule or agenda
- a position in a hierarchy or organization
- the trail of an animal (especially a deer)
- (computer) a socket in a microcomputer that will accept a plug-in circuit board
- a slot machine that is used for gambling
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- Verb:
- assign a time slot
Word Origin
- slot (n.1)
- late 14c., "hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone," from Old French esclot "hoofprint of a deer or horse," of uncertain origin, probably from Old Norse sloð "trail" (see sleuth). Original sense is rare or obsolete in Modern English; sense of "narrow opening into which something else can be fitted" is first recorded 1520s. Meaning "middle of the (semi-circular) copy desk at a newspaper," the spot occupied by the chief sub-editor, is recorded from 1917. The sense of "opening in a machine for a coin to be inserted" is from 1888 (slot machine first attested 1891). The sense of "position in a list" is first recorded 1942; verb sense of "designate, appoint" is from 1960s. Slot car first attested 1966.
- slot (n.2)
- "bar or bolt used to fasten a door, window, etc.," c. 1300, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German slot (compare Old Norse slot, Old High German sloz, German Schloss "bolt, bar, lock, castle;" Old Saxon slutil "key," Dutch slot "a bolt, lock, castle"), from Proto-Germanic stem *slut- "to close" (cognates: Old Frisian sluta, Dutch sluiten, Old High German sliozan, German schliessen "to shut, close, bolt, lock"), from PIE root *klau- "hook, peg" (cognates: Greek kleis "key;" Latin claudere "to shut, close," clavis "key," clavus "nail;" see close (v.)). Wooden pegs seem to have been the original keys.
- slot (v.2)
- 1560s, "to bolt a door," from slot (n.2). Related: Slotted; slotting.
- slot (v.1)
- 1747, "provide with a slot, cut slots in," from slot (n.1). Meaning "drop a coin in a slot" is from 1888. Sense of "take a position in a slot" is from 1940; that of "fit (something) into a slot" is from 1966. Oldest sense is obsolete: "stab in the base of the throat" (c. 1400). Related: Slotted; slotting.
Example
- 1. The new phone also lacks a memory-expansion slot .
- 2. After each call gates is shown checking the coin slot for loose change .
- 3. The photo above shows a view from inside of antelope slot canyon , arizona , looking up and out .
- 4. Each one of them will be a " memory slot " that you 'll later use to store a single piece of information .
- 5. He explained that every driver carries a card that must be inserted into a slot in the dashboard ; too many hours and the driver could be punished .