Asterisk: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Greek 'asteriskos', meaning 'little star', showing its star-like shape.
• The symbol's first known use dates back to the 3rd century BC in Greek literature, where it served to denote footnotes or annotations.

Typography

• It's commonly used in writing to indicate a footnote or to censor parts of words.
• Different fonts have unique styles of asterisks, ranging from simple to elaborate, showing its versatility in design.

Mathematics

• In math and programming, an asterisk often represents multiplication, making calculations easier to read.
• In regular expressions, it acts as a wildcard symbol, representing zero or more instances of a character, which is crucial in coding.

Pop Culture

• Asterisk has appeared in various media, such as video games and movies, often symbolizing something mysterious or intriguing.
• It is also popular in internet slang, where it's used to correct or clarify previous statements (e.g., *correction).

Communication

• In informal writing like texting, people use an asterisk to emphasize or clarify a message without changing the original text.
• Its presence can indicate sarcasm or irony by adding a layer of meaning to the conversation.

With rank #16,105, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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• 16105 asterisk
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