n.
Pronunciation: ' as-t ə - ˌ risk, esp in plural also ÷- ˌ rik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, astarisc, from Late Latin asteriscus, from Greek asteriskos, literally, little star, diminutive of aster-, ast ē r
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 \ -l ə s \ adjective