A narrow opening, especially one in a machine or a position in a series of events (such as an open time slot on a calendar). The word is probably derived from the notion of a notch or groove cut into something, such as a keyway in a lock. More recently, the word has been extended to cover any small hole or gap, such as the gap between face-off circles on an ice hockey rink or the space left by a broken door handle. The word is also used in computer hardware, software, and in programming to describe an area for expansion. In some cases, the term has even been applied to a human body, such as the gap between the molars or the tongue.

In a slot game, players insert coins or tokens into the machine and pull a lever or push a virtual button on a touch screen to spin the reels. When the reels stop, if symbols line up along pay lines, the player wins. Modern slot machines use a random number generator to ensure that each spin is independent and unbiased.

Some slots have a theme, like Egyptian, Fruit or Romance, while others are themed after popular movies and TV shows. Some of these games are multi-reel and feature immersive bonus features. A good way to get a feel for a slot before playing it is to read reviews or presentations online. It’s also worth reading about the types of symbols that are used – many slots use classic card symbols but some have more unusual ones, such as watermelons or oranges, or themed symbols, fitting the theme.