slots
slots — noun
- slotssingular
- slotsesplural
1. a straight, narrow opening cut into a surface, made to receive an object pushed
a straight, narrow opening cut into a surface, made to receive an object pushed into it or to let something pass through
Wei pushed a coin into the slot on the vending machine and pressed the button.
slot + on + [machine]: preposition for surface location
The back of the television has slots for connecting speakers and other devices.
slots + for + [purpose]: slot designed for a function
Olga slid the SIM card into the narrow slot on the side of the phone.
Letters are dropped through a narrow slot in the door of the post office.
Gas from the stove burner comes out through small slots around the metal ring.
文法句型
slot + in/on/for
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compound nouns such as 'mail slot', 'coin slot', 'card slot'.
常見錯誤
2. a fixed period of time on a television or radio schedule, or a spot within an ev
a fixed period of time on a television or radio schedule, or a spot within an event timetable
The cooking show was moved from its usual evening slot to an early morning time.
Radio stations compete for the prime advertising slots just before the evening news.
prime slot: most desirable broadcast time
The final match of the tournament received the best time slot on Saturday night.
New programs often struggle to find a regular slot in a busy television schedule.
Children's cartoons are usually shown in the daytime slot when kids are home from school.
文法句型
time slot
slot + for + [event]
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives that describe timing or value: 'prime slot', 'regular slot', 'late-night slot', 'peak slot'.
3. an available period of time for a meeting, a delivery, a service, or another arr
an available period of time for a meeting, a delivery, a service, or another arranged activity
The earliest slot the dentist had was next Tuesday at ten o'clock in the morning.
Amina booked a delivery slot for her online grocery order between two and four.
delivery slot: scheduled period for receiving goods
There were no free parking slots left at the airport on Saturday afternoon.
Diego chose a consultation slot at the clinic that did not conflict with his classes.
The website allows you to reserve a time slot for your visa application interview.
- appointment
a formal arrangement to meet; 'slot' is more about the time than the meeting itself
- booking
a reservation of a service; 'slot' is the time assigned for that booking
文法句型
slot + for + [purpose]
booking/delivery/appointment slot
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (SCHEDULED TIME), which refers to broadcast or media programming. This sense is about personal appointments, deliveries, and availability of services.
4. in ice hockey, the rink zone right before the goal net, where scoring opportunit
in ice hockey, the rink zone right before the goal net, where scoring opportunities arise most often
The centre skated into the slot and fired a powerful shot at the goalkeeper.
into the slot: movement toward the goal area
Defenders keep the opposing team out of the slot to prevent easy goals.
From the slot, a quick pass to either side can create a good scoring chance.
The goalie lost sight of the puck when it bounced inside the slot area.
Coaches teach young forwards to move into the slot when they see an opening.
- scoring area
more general term for any high-percentage shooting zone
- crease
specifically the painted blue area directly in front of the goal, not the broader slot area
文法句型
the slot
into the slot
from the slot
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the singular form 'the slot'. This is a specialized ice hockey term; learners may not encounter it outside sports coverage.
5. in US gridiron football, the area on the field between the offensive front playe
in US gridiron football, the area on the field between the offensive front players and the outside pass catcher, or a player who lines up there
The running back found a gap in the slot and gained fifteen yards.
A receiver in the slot can catch passes over the middle of the field more easily.
in the slot: positioned in that area of the field
The defense shifted to cover the slot, leaving the outside receiver unmarked for a moment.
Coaches put the fastest player in the slot to take advantage of mismatches.
From the slot, the receiver ran a short route over the middle and caught the pass.
- slot position
more explicit; refers to both the area and the player's role
文法句型
in the slot
slot receiver
用法筆記
Primarily used in American football commentary and coaching. Outside North America, this sense is rarely encountered. The term also describes the player ('slot receiver', 'slot cornerback').
6. a machine in casinos and bars where you put coins in and activate it with a butt
a machine in casinos and bars where you put coins in and activate it with a button or a lever, hoping to win money
Fatima won fifty dollars from a slot machine on her first visit to the casino.
slot machine: the full form of the term
Many people spend hours sitting in front of slot machines, hoping for a big win.
The old slot machine in the bar had not been used in several years.
A row of slot machines lined the wall, flashing bright lights and playing loud music.
Kwame put a coin into the slot machine and pulled the handle, watching the symbols.
- one-armed bandit
informal old-fashioned term referring to the single handle on early machines
文法句型
play the slots
slot machine
用法筆記
Often shortened to 'the slots' in informal speech: 'She spent the evening playing the slots.' The headword 'slots' itself commonly refers to these machines in gambling contexts.
7. a place, job, or available role within an organization, a team, a course, or a s
a place, job, or available role within an organization, a team, a course, or a system
The company has an open slot for a senior engineer in its Tokyo research office.
open slot: available position
Mei was offered a slot in the university's graduate programme starting next autumn.
slot + in + [programme]: position within an educational programme
The band needs to fill the slot for a bass player before their summer tour.
Only three slots are still available for the leadership training course this year.
Ingrid applied for a slot on the committee to help plan local events.
文法句型
slot + in/on + [organization]
slot for + [position]
用法筆記
Common collocations with verbs: 'fill a slot', 'have a slot', 'apply for a slot', 'offer a slot', 'find a slot'. The phrase 'slot in' (verb) is related.
常見錯誤
slots — verb
- slotspresent simple I / you / we / they
- slotses3rd person singular
- slotsing-ing form
- slotsedpast simple
1. to place an item inside a narrow opening made to receive it, or to join matching
to place an item inside a narrow opening made to receive it, or to join matching parts so that one fits into another
Pablo slotted the memory card into the camera and turned it on.
slot + [object] + into + [device]: transitive pattern
The pieces of the bookshelf slot together easily without any tools or glue needed.
slot together: intransitive — pieces fit into each other
Siti slotted each DVD back into its case after finishing the movie.
The thin metal bar slots into the groove on the side of the drawer.
Wei carefully slotted the key into the narrow lock of the antique cabinet.
- remove
opposite action of taking something out of a slot
文法句型
slot + [object] + into + [receptacle]
slot + together
slot + into + [receptacle]
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (slot something into something) or intransitively (something slots into/onto something). The intransitive use describes how parts fit by design.
2. in football, hockey, and similar sports, to send the ball into the net with a co
in football, hockey, and similar sports, to send the ball into the net with a controlled, accurate strike
The striker slotted the ball neatly into the bottom corner of the net.
slot + the ball + into + [location]: standard scoring pattern
With only two minutes left, Fatima slotted home the winning goal for her team.
slot home: idiomatic phrasal verb for scoring
Hiroshi received a pass from midfield and slotted it past the diving goalkeeper.
The forward slotted the puck under the goalie's arm for a last-minute victory.
From a tight angle, Ingrid slotted the ball just inside the far post.
文法句型
slot + the ball/puck + into/past
slot + home
用法筆記
Primarily used in British football (soccer) commentary and writing. The phrasal form 'slot home' is especially common in sports journalism. Implies a calm, precise placement rather than a powerful strike.