(chiefly, US, typography) The hash or square symbol #, used mainly in telephony and computing.
(chiefly, US, typography) The hash or square symbol #, used mainly in telephony and computing.
Octothorpe means: The hash or square symbol #, used mainly in telephony and computing.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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The vocabulary of software engineers, AI researchers, and anyone living in a terminal or on GitHub — from LLM to MCP, CORS to vibe coding, agentic to enshittification.
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Octothorpe means: The hash or square symbol #, used mainly in telephony and computing.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
octothorpe means: The hash or square symbol #, used mainly in telephony and computing.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
“@octothorpe we have a couple of engineers who have absolutely no clue and totally barge in on people deeply concentrating without remorse. It’s super awkward.”
(US) The symbol !; an exclamation mark.