A narrow, elongated depression, groove, notch, or opening for receiving or admitting something, especially a coin or letter. (Linguistics) a position in a construction into which one or more morphemes fit; also, the position of chief copy editor on a newsroom staff. (Compare slit.)
Modern slot machines look like the old mechanical models, but they work on a different principle. Instead of gears, they use a central computer to generate random numbers for each spin. When the machine receives a signal — anything from a button being pressed to the handle being pulled — the computer picks a number and if it matches a pay line, you win. The computer never chooses the same number twice, so a machine that goes a long time without paying out isn’t “due” to hit soon. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get lucky — all it means is that another player was in exactly the right place at the exact right time to hit the jackpot. (And remember, you can’t know when that other person is going to be in your place, so don’t leave a machine after seeing someone else walk away with a jackpot.))
