Definition

Noun: 1. A gambling machine operated by inserting coins or tokens into a slot and pulling a handle or pushing a button to activate spinning reels marked with symbols; a payout is made if the symbols line up in a winning combination. This is the most common meaning, referring to a casino or arcade game of chance. 2. (Less common) A vending machine operated by inserting a coin into a slot. This older usage refers to machines that dispense items like gum, cigarettes, or small toys.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Gambling machine):
  • She won a hundred dollars on the slot machine at the casino.
  • The casino floor was filled with the sounds of slot machines.
• Noun (Vending machine - historical/less common):
  • He bought a pack of gum from the old slot machine in the diner.

Advanced Usage

• "To play the slot machines": This phrase describes the act of gambling on these machines.
  • They spent the afternoon playing the slot machines.

Variants and Related Words

• One-armed bandit (n, informal): A nickname for a slot machine, referring to its single lever ("arm") and its tendency to take money ("bandit").
• Fruit machine (n, chiefly British): A common term for a slot machine, as traditional symbols often included fruits like cherries and lemons.
• Poker machine / pokie (n, chiefly Australian/NZ): A common term for a gambling machine, often electronic.

Synonyms

• Gaming machine
• Gambling device

Related Phrases

• To hit the jackpot (on a slot machine): To win the largest possible prize.
  • After three pulls, she hit the jackpot on the slot machine.
• A high-roller / penny slot machine: Describes machines with different minimum bet amounts.
  • He prefers the penny slot machines so his money lasts longer.

Noun

1. a machine that is operated by the insertion of a coin in a slot