Friday, December 13, 2024

Answers to yesterday's Bee

Jump to answers for


The official answers for today's puzzle are:

Click on the arrow to show the definition.
Click outside the pop-up to close it.



Number of Pangrams: 1

Maximum Puzzle Score: 120

Number of Answers: 27

Points Needed for Genius: 84

Genius requires between 13 and 24 words. You need at least a 7-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangram, you need 80% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangram, you only need 66% of the remaining points to reach genius.

Other days with this pangram:

The button below will reveal a chart with the number of words by each letter. Red bars indicate that there is a pangram(s) starting with that letter.


How does this puzzle compare to other puzzles?

Today's score of 120 was in the 25th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this low was on December 11, 2024.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 27 possible answers rank it in the 18th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were fewer answers than this was on December 11, 2024.
The highest number of answers was 81 on June 8, 2019.
The lowest number of answers was 16 on March 27, 2023.

It takes a 7-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on December 11, 2024.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 5.2.
For all Bees, the average word length has been 5.3.



Haven't I seen these letters before?

Hover over a letter to see its first and most recent appearance in the Bee!



Haven't I seen these words before?

The most common words in the Bee are:

  • noon 189
  • loll 180
  • toot 173
  • naan 165
  • nana 165
  • lilt 130
  • till 130
  • tilt 130
  • tint 126
  • mama 121
  • mamma 121
  • nene 119
  • acacia 115
  • acai 115
  • onto 114
  • toon 114
  • anal 110
  • onion 109
  • anon 107
  • boob 106
  • booboo 106
  • olio 103
  • papa 102
  • baba 101
  • lull 101
  • lulu 101
  • dodo 100
  • mitt 100
  • poop 100
  • tact 100
  • allay 97
  • ally 97
  • call 97
  • calla 97
  • ratatat 97
  • tart 97
  • tartar 97
  • attar 96
  • tatty 96
  • cocci 95
  • tattoo 95
  • tutu 95
  • ammo 94
  • momma 94
  • mono 94
  • moon 94
  • epee 93
  • peep 93
  • loon 91
  • roar 91


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 94,375 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,363 unique words.
Below are the distributions of the lengths of these words.



Valid dictionary words not in today's official answers

You may be wondering why these words aren't here*:

  • acta
  • kata
  • kyat
  • taka
  • tarty
  • tatar
  • tayra
  • twat

*Because the New York Times considers them obscure or offensive.

arty

adjective
  1. Pretending to artistic worth; high-flown.

attack

noun
  1. An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of opponent or enemy.
  2. An attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing, by physical, verbal, emotional, or other assault.
  3. A time in which one attacks; the offence of a battle.
  4. (by extension) The beginning of active operations on anything.
  5. An attempt to exploit a vulnerability in a computer system.
  6. Collectively, the bowlers of a cricket side.
  7. Any contact with the ball other than a serve or block which sends the ball across the plane of the net.
  8. The three attackmen on the field or all the attackmen of a team.
  9. The sudden onset of a disease or condition.
  10. An active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease.
  11. The onset of a musical note, particularly with respect to the strength (and duration) of that onset.
  12. (audio) The amount of time it takes for the volume of an audio signal to go from zero to maximum level (e.g. an audio waveform representing a snare drum hit would feature a very fast attack, whereas that of a wave washing to shore would feature a slow attack).
verb
  1. To apply violent force to someone or something.
  2. To aggressively challenge a person, idea, etc., with words (particularly in newspaper headlines, because it typesets into less space than "criticize" or similar).
  3. To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
  4. To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.
  5. To aim balls at the batsman’s wicket.
  6. To set a field, or bowl in a manner designed to get wickets.
  7. To bat aggressively, so as to score runs quickly.
  8. To move forward in an active attempt to score a point, as opposed to trying not to concede.
  9. To accelerate quickly in an attempt to get ahead of the other riders.

attar

noun
  1. An essential oil extracted from flowers.
  2. A perfume made from this oil.

attract

verb
  1. To pull toward without touching.
  2. To arouse interest.
  3. To draw by moral, emotional or sexual influence; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure.

carat

noun
  1. A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
  2. Any of several units of weight, varying from 189 to 212 mg, the weight of a carob seed.
  3. A measure of the purity of gold, pure gold being 24 carats.

cart

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers.
  2. A small motor vehicle resembling a car; a go-cart.
  3. A shopping cart.
verb
  1. To carry goods.
  2. To carry or convey in a cart.
  3. To remove, especially involuntarily or for disposal.
  4. To expose in a cart by way of punishment.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A tape cartridge used for pre-recorded material such as jingles and advertisements.
  2. A cartridge for a video game system.

cataract

noun
  1. A waterspout
  2. A large waterfall; steep rapids in a river.
  3. A flood of water
  4. An overwhelming downpour or rush
  5. A clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a decrease in vision.

catty

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. (of a person or remark) With subtle hostility in an effort to hurt, annoy or upset, particularly among women.
  2. Resembling or characteristic of a cat.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A (unit of) weight used in China, generally standardized as half a kilogram.

karat

noun
  1. A unit of fineness or concentration of gold equalling 1/24 part of gold in an alloy.

kart

noun
  1. A go-cart.
verb
  1. To ride in a go-cart.

ratatat

noun
  1. A swiftly repeated knocking sound.

ratty

adjective
  1. Similar to a rat; ratlike.
  2. Infested with rats.
  3. In poor condition or repair
  4. Irritable, annoyed, bad-tempered.

tack

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A small nail with a flat head.
  2. A thumbtack.
  3. A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
  4. The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind.
  5. A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind. See also reach, gybe.
  6. A direction or course of action, especially a new one.
  7. The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other.
  8. The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board.
  9. A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is close-hauled; also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.
  10. Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals. Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, martingales, and breastplates are all forms of horse tack.
  11. The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties.
  12. Food generally; fare, especially of the bread kind.
  13. That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.
  14. A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.
  15. Confidence; reliance.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To nail with a tack (small nail with a flat head).
  2. To sew/stich with a tack (loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth).
  3. To maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other.
  4. To add something as an extra item.
  5. Often paired with "up", to place the tack on a horse.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A stain; a tache.
  2. A peculiar flavour or taint.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. That which is tacky; something cheap and gaudy.

tacky

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Of a substance, slightly sticky.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A scrubby, neglected horse.
  2. A person in a similar condition.
adjective
  1. Of low quality.
  2. In poor taste.
  3. Gaudy or flashy.
  4. Shabby, dowdy in one's appearance or dress.

tact

noun
  1. The sense of touch; feeling.
  2. The stroke in beating time.
  3. Sensitive mental touch; special skill or faculty; keen perception or discernment; ready power of appreciating and doing what is required by circumstances; the ability to say the right thing.
  4. A verbal operant which is controlled by a nonverbal stimulus (such as an object, event, or property of an object) and is maintained by nonspecific social reinforcement (praise).
verb
  1. To use a tact (a kind of verbal operant; see noun sense).
noun
  1. A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end.
  2. A maneuver used against an enemy.
  3. A sequence of moves that limits the opponent's options and results in an immediate and tangible advantage, typically in the form of material.

tarry

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A sojourn.
verb
  1. To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
  2. To linger in expectation of something or until something is done or happens.
  3. To abide, stay or wait somewhere, especially if longer than planned.
  4. To stay somewhere temporarily.
  5. To wait for; to stay or stop for; to allow to linger.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Resembling tar.
  2. Covered with tar.

tart

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
  2. (of wine) high or too high in acidity.
  3. Sharp; keen; severe.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A prostitute.
  2. By extension, any woman with loose sexual morals.
verb
  1. To practice prostitution
  2. To practice promiscuous sex
  3. To dress garishly, ostentatiously, whorishly, or sluttily

tartar

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate - a source of cream of tartar.
  2. A hard yellow deposit on the teeth.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A fearsome or angrily violent person.

tatty

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Potato

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Tattered; dilapidated, distressed, worn-out, torn

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A woven mat or screen hung at a door or window and kept wet to moisten and cool the air as it enters.

track

noun
  1. A mark left by something that has passed along.
  2. A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or animal.
  3. The entire lower surface of the foot; said of birds, etc.
  4. A road or other similar beaten path.
  5. Physical course; way.
  6. A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc.
  7. The direction and progress of someone or something; path.
  8. The way or rails along which a train moves.
  9. A tract or area, such as of land.
  10. The street, as a prostitute's place of work.
  11. Awareness of something, especially when arising from close monitoring.
  12. The distance between two opposite wheels on a same axletree.
  13. Short for caterpillar track.
  14. The pitch.
  15. Sound stored on a record.
  16. The physical track on a record.
  17. A song or other relatively short piece of music, on a record, separated from others by a short silence.
  18. A circular (never-ending) data storage unit on a side of magnetic or optical disk, divided into sectors.
  19. The racing events of track and field; track and field in general.
  20. A session talk on a conference.
verb
  1. To continue over time.
  2. To follow the tracks of.
  3. To make tracks on.
  4. To create a musical recording (a track).
  5. To make sense; to be consistent with known information

trackway

noun
  1. A set of footprints left in soft ground by a human or animal, especially if fossilized.
  2. Any of two or more narrow paths, of steel, smooth stone, or similar, laid in a public roadway otherwise formed of an inferior pavement, such as cobblestones, to provide an easy way for wheeled vehicles.

tract

Etymology 1

noun
  1. An area or expanse.
  2. A series of connected body organs, as in the digestive tract.
  3. A small booklet such as a pamphlet, often for promotional or informational uses.
  4. A brief treatise or discourse on a subject.
  5. A commentator's view or perspective on a subject.
  6. Continued or protracted duration, length, extent
  7. Part of the proper of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations, used instead of the alleluia during Lenten or pre-Lenten seasons, in a Requiem Mass, and on a few other penitential occasions.
  8. Continuity or extension of anything.
  9. Traits; features; lineaments.
  10. The footprint of a wild animal.
  11. Track; trace.
  12. Treatment; exposition.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To pursue, follow; to track.
  2. To draw out; to protract.

tray

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
  2. A flat carrier for items being transported.
  3. The items on a full tray.
  4. A component of a device into which an item is placed for use in the device's operations.
  5. A notification area used for icons and alerts.
  6. A type of retail or wholesale packaging for CPUs where the processors are sold in bulk and/or with minimal packaging.
  7. (pickup) truck bed
verb
  1. To place (items) on a tray
  2. To slide down a snow-covered hill on a tray from a cafeteria.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Trouble; annoyance; anger

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To grieve; to annoy

Etymology 4

verb
  1. To betray

Etymology 5

noun
  1. A playing card or die with the rank of three.
  2. A score of three in cards, dice, or dominoes.
  3. A three-pointer.
  4. The third bearer of the same personal name in a family, often denoted by suffixed Roman numeral III.
  5. The third branch of a deer's antler.

wart

noun
  1. A type of deformed growth occurring on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
  2. Any similar growth occurring in plants or animals, such as the parotoid glands in the back of toads.
  3. Any of the prefixes used in Hungarian notation.

warty

No Definition Found.

watt

noun
  1. In the International System of Units, the derived unit of power; the power of a system in which one joule of energy is transferred per second. Symbol: W

cartway

No Definition Found.