A slot is a narrow opening, such as one used for receiving coins in a machine. It may also refer to a place or position, such as an assignment or job opening.
In football, the term “slot” refers to the defensive back position that covers the wide receiver on offense. The position requires physical ability and athleticism, as the slot corner is tasked with both press coverage and man-to-man coverage. Moreover, the slot corner must be able to cover multiple receivers, as there are often multiple open slots on the field at any given time.
A slot is also the name of a specific aircraft operation that is authorized to take off or land at a busy airport during a specified time period. Airlines and air traffic controllers use slots to prevent the kind of excessive delays that can result when too many planes try to take off or land at once. Airlines also offer a range of slots in order to accommodate different passenger preferences.
