wildcard

== English == === Etymology === From wild +‎ card. === Pronunciation === === Noun === wildcard (plural wildcards) (computing) A character that takes the place of any other character or string that is not known or specified. 1968, Digital Equipment Corporation, VAX/VMS 319(5864), page 751, Section 2.1.2 Using Wildcard Characters A wildcard character is a symbol that you can use with many DCL commands to apply the command to several files at once, rather than specifying each file individually. (also written wild card) An uncontrolled or unpredictable element. (also written wild card) An element, often deliberately concealed, which is withheld for contingency. (sports, card games) Alternative form of wild card. (phonetics, phonology) 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. ==== Usage notes ==== A wild card in card games is usually written as two separate words. The computing term is usually written as one compound word. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === wildcard (third-person singular simple present wildcards, present participle wildcarding, simple past and past participle wildcarded) (computing) To replace or supplement with a wildcard character to allow matching against a range of possible values. == Spanish == === Noun === wildcard m (plural wildcards) wildcard