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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A star-shaped figure (*) used chiefly to indicate an omission, a reference to a footnote, or an unattested word, sound, or affix.
  2. v. To mark with an asterisk.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. The figure of a star (*), used in printing and writing— as a reference to a passage or note in the margin; to distinguish words or phrases as conjectural, theoretical, unverified, obscure, or as having some other specified character; to mark the omission of words or letters; and arbitrarily, as a mark of classification.
  2. n. Something in the shape of or resembling an asterisk.
  3. n. In the Gr. Ch., a frame consisting of two arches of metal, crossing each other at right angles, placed on the paten and over the prepared bread of the eucharist to prevent contact with the covering veil.
  4. To insert an asterisk (in a text) as the reference to a foot-note or for any other reason for which an asterisk is used. See asterisk, 1.

Wiktionary

  1. n. Symbol (*).
  2. n. sports, US A blemish in an otherwise outstanding achievement.
  3. n. biology Alternate of Asteriscus.
  4. v. To mark with an asterisk symbol (*)

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. The figure of a star, thus, �, used in printing and writing as a reference to a passage or note in the margin, to supply the omission of letters or words, or to mark a word or phrase as having a special character.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. mark with an asterisk
  2. n. a star-shaped character * used in printing

Etymologies

  1. From Late Latin asteriscus, from Ancient Greek ἀστερίσκος (asteriskos, "a little star, asterisk, used in manuscripts to mark passages"), diminutive of ἀστήρ (aster, "a star"). (Wiktionary)
  2. Middle English, from Late Latin asteriscus, from Greek asteriskos, diminutive of astēr, star; see ster-3 in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

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Lists

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Comments

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  • whichbe "McCain calls the Keating scandal 'my asterisk.' Over the years, his opponents have failed to turn it into a period. -- wtf? Oct 6, 2008

  • pterodactyl See this map for American pronunciation.

    And oroboros, I love your poem. :-D Apr 10, 2008

  • seanahan I enjoy that this word has the same root as asteroid. Jun 14, 2007

  • deliriumslibrarian "A star in any language." Anne Carson Jun 13, 2007

  • oroboros At the ice-skating rink, Ms Tryst
    Demurred when asked for her wrist;
    For 'tho she was willing,
    The thought of a spilling
    Would,perhaps, put her *. Dec 12, 2006

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‘asterisk’ has been looked up 2033 times, loved by 4 people, added to 26 lists, commented on 6 times, and has a Scrabble score of 12.