Main Entry: ¹as·ter·isk

Pronunciation: \ˈas-tə-ˌrisk, especially in plural also ÷-ˌrik\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, astarisc, from Late Latin asteriscus, from Greek asteriskos, literally, little star, diminutive of aster-, astēr

Date: 14th century

: the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings

— as·ter·isk·less \-ləs\ adjective