expansion slot

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expansion slot The connectors and physical supports in a computer into which an add-in card is inserted. The number and type of expansion slots is an important characteristic in distinguishing different types of computer. In general, the more expansion slots, the more upgradable the computer. Most expansion slots connect to one of the many kinds of bus or sometimes into a proprietary backplane or motherboard. In laptops and other portable computers, they are called PCMCIA slots.