wildcard

1. A character that takes the place of any other character or string that is not known or specified.

   If the character * is acting as a wildcard, then the pattern a*m matches each of the words amalgam, atom and alum.

2. An uncontrolled or unpredictable element.

3. An element, often deliberately concealed, which is withheld for contingency.

4. A letter or symbol that substitutes for a generic or poorly identified sound, for example capital C for any or some consonant, or capital V for any or some vowel.

1. This wildcard character stands for an unspecified symbol.

   CC BY · Tatoeba · Jesse · C1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

2. That's the wildcard.

   CC0 · Tatoeba · shekitten · C1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

3. On Tatoeba, "Cookie" is a wildcard name for any pet.

   CC0 · Tatoeba · shekitten · C1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

4. It's Day 3 of Project Wildcard, and over half our members already ditched us.

   CC BY · Tatoeba · DJ_Saidez · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

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