magic asterisk
- noun
- Specialized
:
asterisco comodín
- The programmer used a magic asterisk to match every record in the database.
Examples
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In our search function, the magic asterisk lets users find all files with any name.
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The magic asterisk can simplify complex queries.
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Applying the magic asterisk in the command filtered the results efficiently.
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You need to use a magic asterisk in your search.
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Using a magic asterisk in your code allows you to retrieve all entries that match your criteria.
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To improve your search results, apply the magic asterisk when looking for similar files.
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The magic asterisk acts as a wildcard, enabling the program to include multiple variations in its search.
Synonyms
27
4.1
A small mark like a star used in writing to show a note or special meaning
1
4.6
A symbol used in searches and computer programs to stand for any letters or words
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is partly compositional: a learner who knows 'asterisk' and the metaphorical use of 'magic' will infer it denotes a special or powerful asterisk. However, the specific technical function as a wildcard in coding is domain-specific and not directly predictable from everyday meanings, so a B1 learner would likely grasp that it is a special asterisk but not its precise wildcard use.
Etymology
Magic asterisk comes from the idea of a small 'star', the asterisk, that acts like a little magic trick in searches by standing for many letters or names. So, using a magic asterisk 'matches' or finds many items at once, which is why it means 'an asterisk used to stand for many possible values'.