★

★ U+2605, ★ BLACK STAR ← ☄ [U+2604] Miscellaneous Symbols ☆ → [U+2606]

Translingual

Description

The five-pointed star: five (typically evenly) spaced, outward-reaching triangular points formed by a single continuous, connecting line in an equidistant circular pattern, with one point at the top, two across from each other at the sides, and the remaining two points at the bottom completing a symmetric arrangement.

In various depictions of the symbol, it may be hollow (☆) or solid (★), and have uneven sides.

Glyph origin

Likely from Egyptian 𓇼 (“determinative for stars and constellations”) (image:

). However, around the same time in Mesopotamia, non-cuneiform depictions of a star with eight- or six-points are attested; compare Sumerian 𒀭, a cuneiform character descended from such drawings.

Symbol

★ (English symbol name star or five-pointed star)

1. A star.
2. A victory; a win.
   1. (sports, originally soccer) On a kit, indicates a tournament or championship victory.
3. Indicates an end point; a goal.
4. A mark of excellence.
   1. A critical rating, with more stars indicating a higher score, better quality or better performance.
   2. An award; a certificate.
      1. (education, assessment) Indicates an outstanding performance.
      2. (military, law enforcement) A badge; an honour.
   3. (graphical user interface) Favourite (“to add to one's list of favourite items on a website or service that allows users to compile such lists”); favourites.
   4. (chiefly video games) An achievement; rewards.
   5. (animation, especially anime, comics) Appears in the eyes of a character to indicate that they are star-struck, excited or incredibly happy.
5. Indicates something or someone noteworthy, important, special or significant.
   1. A highlighted or selected person or thing; a marker.
      1. The best or most exceptional item in a list.
      2. Indicates a featured item or thing.
      3. Indicates something rare.
      4. A recommendation.
      5. A popularity rating, with more stars indicating a higher level of notoriety or popularity.
      6. (signage) A talented person; a star.
   2. The leader, manager, representative or head of a group, coalition or team.
   3. (military) Insignia, with more stars indicating a higher, superior or more senior rank or position.
   4. (cartography) Denotes a desired location, such as one's destination, a point of interest or a landmark.
      1. (cartography, specifically) Denotes a capital city.
   5. (graphical user interface) Bookmark (“to create a record of the address of a file or Internet page, serving as a shortcut to it”); bookmarks; save; saved items.
   6. (metonymically) Fame; stardom.
   7. (video games) Indicates a power-up or collectible item.
6. Alternative form of *.
7. Luck.
8. Unity; harmony.
9. (typography) A fleuron.
10. (video games, tabletop games) The symbol for a fictional in-game currency; victory points.
11. (chiefly animation) Appears on an object to indicate that it is shiny, bright or polished; a sparkle.
12. (video games, uncommon) A difficulty rating, with more stars indicating a higher level of difficulty.
13. (Internet slang, rare) Synonym of ⭐ (various senses).
14. Meaning dependent upon the colour of the star:
    1. (red) Communism; the Red Star.
    2. (black, vexillology) The Black Star of Africa.
    3. (green) Esperanto.
    4. (white, rare) Italy; the Star of Italy.