This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Friday, December 19, 2025 (30 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Friday puzzles are themeless and hard, with clues that are vague on purpose.
How to read this clue
The question mark warns of wordplay. Expect a pun or a second meaning rather than a straight definition.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
E _ _
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About the answer
EAR as a word: (countable) The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna or auricle, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea; (countable) The external part of the organ of hearing, the auricle.
EAR has been an answer 18 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since October 26, 2025.
Other clues with the same answer
- Musician's gift
- Place for a piercing or a plug
- Something that may be lent or bent
- Musician's asset
- Pink part of a Mr. Potato Head set
- Floppy part of a beagle
- Canal entry
- Big part of an elephant
- Part of the body with a lobe
- Corn whole?
- Body part that may have a ring or a stud
- Body part that can serve as a pencil holder
More clues from this puzzle
- Bad place to be while gambling (24 Down)
- Fictional companion of Thing One and Thing Two (25 Down)
- Hit below the belt, in a way (26 Down)
- Easter basket treat (28 Down)
- Wrap up by (32 Down)
- Like He and Xe (33 Down)
- Windy City exchange, in brief (34 Down)
- Altar-ed statement? (36 Down)
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