🇺🇸
/ˈæstərɪsk/
🇺🇸
/ˈæstərɪsk/
🇬🇧
/ˈæstərɪsk/
🇬🇧
/ˈæstərɪsk/
Plural
asterisks
An asterisk is a small star-shaped symbol (*) used in writing and printing to indicate a footnote, draw attention to something, mark an omission, or signal an exception — think of it as the quiet but insistent 'Hey, look here!' of punctuation.
Please refer to the footnote marked with an asterisk at the bottom of the page.
The price list shows discounted rates, but an asterisk indicates that terms and conditions apply.
In programming, the asterisk is often used for multiplication or as a wildcard character.
She asterisked her name on the form to denote that she was under 18.
The editor added an asterisk next to the questionable statistic to flag it for verification.
aster
Comes from the Greek noun 'astēr' (ἀστήρ), meaning 'star'. It denotes stellar or star-like qualities and appears in words related to stars, radiating patterns, or star-shaped symbols. Examples include asteroid, asterisk, astronomy, astrophysics, and disaster (via Latin 'dis-' + 'astrum', originally 'bad star').