asterisk

[as-tuh-risk] /ˈæs tə rɪsk/
noun
1.
a small starlike symbol (*), used in writing and printing as a reference mark or to indicate omission, doubtful matter, etc.
2.
Linguistics. the figure of a star (*) used to mark utterance that would be considered ungrammatical or otherwise unacceptable by native speakers of a language, as in
* I enjoy to ski.
3.
Historical Linguistics. the figure of a star (*) used to mark a hypothetical or reconstructed form that is not attested in a text or inscription.
4.
something in the shape of a star or asterisk.
verb (used with object)
5.
to mark with an asterisk.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin asteriscus < Greek asterískos, diminutive of astḗr star
Pronunciation note
While asterisk is usually said as
[as-tuh-risk] /ˈæs tə rɪsk/ (Show IPA) with the final syllable preceding the [k] /k/ a metathesized pronunciation is also heard, in which the [s] /s/ and [k] /k/ change places producing
[as-tuh-riks] /ˈæs tə rɪks/ . This pronunciation, resulting in part from analogy with plural forms like kicks and sticks, can sometimes lead to a false analysis of
[as-tuh-riks] /ˈæs tə rɪks/ as a plural pronunciation, with a corresponding singular
[as-tuh-rik] /ˈæs tə rɪk/ . The metathesized pronunciation, although occasionally heard among educated speakers, is usually considered nonstandard, as is the pronunciation with no [s] /s/ in the final syllable.
Examples from the web for asterisk
  • Perhaps it means that if an asterisk sticks to one group of champions, it could also apply to all.
  • The sentence marked with an asterisk has been changed.
  • It's not that they have nothing to say, it's that what they say is not accompanied by an asterisk.
  • The asterisk prefixed to the names denotes a renomination.
  • The first app should have an asterisk after it indicating that it is for selective skeptics.
  • When you grow up with a famous father, you have a sense of being an asterisk.
  • Used at the end of a search term, an asterisk allows any ending or suffix.
  • Districts where some student results are excluded indicated with an asterisk.
  • Use an asterisk at the end or in the middle of words.
  • The asterisk must be the last character on the line.
British Dictionary definitions for asterisk

asterisk

/ˈæstərɪsk/
noun
1.
a star-shaped character (*) used in printing or writing to indicate a cross-reference to a footnote, an omission, etc
2.
  1. (in historical linguistics) this sign used to indicate an unattested reconstructed form
  2. (in descriptive linguistics) this sign used to indicate that an expression is ungrammatical or in some other way unacceptable
verb
3.
(transitive) to mark with an asterisk
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin asteriscus a small star, from Greek asteriskos, from astēr star
Word Origin and History for asterisk
n.

"figure used in printing and writing to indicate footnote, omission, etc.," late 14c., asterich, asterisc, from Late Latin asteriscus, from Greek asterikos "little star," diminutive of aster "star" (see astro-). As a verb from 1733.

asterisk in Technology

character
"*" ASCII code 42. Common names include: star; INTERCAL: splat; ITU-T: asterisk. Rare: wild card; gear; dingle; mult; spider; aster; times; twinkle; glob; Nathan Hale.
Commonly used as the multiplication operator and as the Kleene star. Often doubled, as in "x**2", to mean "to the power". In C and related languages, asterisk is used as the dereference operator, "*p" meaning "the thing pointed to by p".
(2006-09-10)