A slot is a narrow opening or groove in something, such as the hole you put coins into to make a machine work. You can also use the word to refer to a position in a group, sequence, or list. For example, you can book a time slot on a website to visit an attraction or an event. A slot is also a term used in football to describe a wide receiver who lines up slightly behind the other wide receivers and offensive linemen on running plays. Slot receivers must be very skilled at running precise routes and must be quick and agile to evade tacklers and make breaks. They also need to be good blockers, especially on sweeps and slants.
Psychologists have found that people who play video slot machines reach debilitating levels of gambling addiction much faster than those who play other casino games, such as blackjack and roulette. The reason is that slot machines are hypnotically appealing, with their bright lights and jingling chimes. They also pay out small amounts constantly, which keeps players glued to them like bees to honey.
A slot is a time in which an airplane can take off from an airport, determined by the capacity of the runway and air traffic controllers’ schedules. The word is also used to refer to a specific window of airtime when an airline can fly from one location to another, depending on the demand and weather conditions.