ASTERISK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does asterisk mean? 

• ASTERISK (noun)
  The noun ASTERISK has 1 sense:

1. a star-shaped character * used in printing

  Familiarity information: ASTERISK used as a noun is very rare.

• ASTERISK (verb)
  The verb ASTERISK has 1 sense:

1. mark with an asterisk

  Familiarity information: ASTERISK used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASTERISK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A star-shaped character * used in printing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

asterisk; star

Hypernyms ("asterisk" is a kind of...):

character; graph; grapheme; graphic symbol (a written symbol that is used to represent speech)

Derivation:

asterisk (mark with an asterisk)

• ASTERISK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they asterisk    ... he / she / it asterisks   
Past simple: asterisked   
Past participle: asterisked   
-ing form: asterisking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Mark with an asterisk

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

asterisk; star

Context example:

Linguists star unacceptable sentences

Hypernyms (to "asterisk" is one way to...):

mark (make or leave a mark on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

asterisk (a star-shaped character * used in printing)

 Context examples 

An asterisk may appear as a placeholder in the second or third segments.

(FDA National Drug Code, NCI Thesaurus)