Crossword Clues Starting with T

802 crossword clues, each with the answer plus links to play the puzzles they appear in.

The star at the center of our solar system

SUN (3)

The sky god who wields a master bolt

ZEUS (4)

The largest planet in our solar system

JUPITER (7)

The planet famous for its bright rings

SATURN (6)

The speed at which a piece of music is played

TEMPO (5)

To cut off unwanted parts of an image

CROP (4)

Team trying to prevent scoring

DEFENSE (7)

The acronym for the Behavioral Analysis Unit

BAU (3)

The lawyer who brings charges against the defendant

PROSECUTOR (10)

The perimeter rope, or a shot that reaches it

BOUNDARY (8)

The length and rhythm of a runner's step.

STRIDE (6)

The silver-bowed mistress of the hunt

ARTEMIS (7)

The king who found that gold is not always a blessing

MIDAS (5)

The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something

ESSENCE (7)

The fourth planet from the sun known as the red planet

MARS (4)

The last name of the technical analyst with colorful style

GARCIA (6)

The sequel will explore very intriguing ___ of the universe, per Keegan-Michael Key.

LORE (4)

The classical language origin for words ending in '-tion'.

LATIN (5)

The original leader of the La Push wolf pack

SAM (3)

The upperclassman who never seems to notice you

SENPAI (6)

The 23.5-degree planetary lean responsible for the shifting seasons.

TILT (4)

The European city where technical talks were meant to resume.

VIENNA (6)

The streaming network hosting the 20th anniversary special.

DISNEY (6)

The standard unit of electrical resistance

OHM (3)

Tethered flyer that takes to the sky during a specific celebration weekend.

KITE (4)

The shiny treasure supposedly hidden at the end of a colorful arch.

GOLD (4)

The type of independent local shop that Record Store Day aims to support.

INDIE (5)

The orange rim players aim for.

HOOP (4)

The hard, grated dairy product shaken over a fresh, hot slice.

PARMESAN (8)

The peak breeding season when bulls become vocal and aggressive

RUT (3)

The absolute best-case scenario for a player's development.

CEILING (7)

The dedicated group of performers backing up the leads

ENSEMBLE (8)

The celebrated month, en espanol.

MAYO (4)

To come together; assemble

GATHER (6)

The Gators, who entered the 2026 tournament looking to defend their national title.

FLORIDA (7)

The fresh green herb that provides a pop of color on a classic pie.

BASIL (5)

The heavy, spinning circular surface of a record player.

PLATTER (7)

The lowest balcony offering a great view of the choreography

MEZZANINE (9)

Title often given to William Shakespeare

BARD (4)

Traditional knee length skirt worn by Scottish men

KILT (4)

The study of correct reasoning and valid arguments

LOGIC (5)

The type of event the roommates hold to mock each other lovingly

HONEYROAST (10)

The first public showing of a movie

PREMIERE (8)

The tense sequence of events leading up to T-zero.

COUNTDOWN (9)

The winged messenger who guides souls to the afterlife

HERMES (6)

The person drawing up the plays on the sideline whiteboard.

COACH (5)

The clever king of Ithaca who took ten years to return home

ODYSSEUS (8)

The scary genre that includes 2026 summer releases like The End of Oak Street

HORROR (6)

The priestess of Delphi who spoke cryptic prophecies

ORACLE (6)

Twin sister of Apollo, goddess of the hunt

ARTEMIS (7)

The city Nick Miller is originally from

CHICAGO (7)

The sky-dwelling leader who wields a bolt

ZEUS (4)

The wagging indicator of a puppy's mood.

TAIL (4)

The unpredictable mathematical theory championed by a certain eccentric doctor

CHAOS (5)

Theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience

EMPIRICISM (10)

The dominant Dutch driver of the modern era

VERSTAPPEN (10)

The human-made tracking system that creates a "blue" mismatch.

CALENDAR (8)

The term used for vampires who only hunt animals

VEGETARIAN (10)

Three-headed dog guarding the underworld

CERBERUS (8)

The three headed hound guarding the gates

CERBERUS (8)

The grumpy bartender who struggles to write his zombie novel

NICK (4)

To pierce, or the first name of the bandmate who embraced a kitchen appliance parody.

LANCE (5)

Trifoliate plant used to explain the Holy Trinity

SHAMROCK (8)

Tool used to identify network vulnerabilities

SCANNER (7)

The number of runs awarded for hitting the ball over the rope without bouncing

SIX (3)

The part that opens and closes to let light in

SHUTTER (7)

The last name of the author who wrote Little Women

ALCOTT (6)

The method of human communication

LANGUAGE (8)

The national pastime that was forever changed in 1947.

BASEBALL (8)

The lowest female singing voice

ALTO (4)

The unseen one who governs the underworld

HADES (5)

Those standing exactly opposite on the other side of the ball

ANTIPODES (9)

To withdraw from a race due to mechanical failure

RETIRE (6)

The Pro spatial computing headset introduced as a major new product category

VISION (6)

The great outdoors

NATURE (6)

The morning meal where this item traditionally shines.

BREAKFAST (9)

Theleaderpacingthesidelinesanddrawingupinboundplaysonawhiteboard.

COACH (5)

The famous circular stadium located in Rome

COLOSSEUM (9)

To rid a hey, then add water.

HYDRATE (7)

The motherly figure and wife of Carlisle Cullen

ESME (4)

To magnify or reduce an image

ZOOM (4)

Thinly sliced, dry-cured ham that elevates a breakfast sandwich.

PROSCIUTTO (10)

The brave main character of a tale

HERO (4)

True pulsers arranged for a three-dimensional form.

SCULPTURE (9)

To launch a program or page

OPEN (4)

The grinning, green-haired nemesis who considers himself the hero's greatest rival.

JOKER (5)

To rest on the surface of liquid

FLOAT (5)

To teach an AI with data

TRAIN (5)

The Volturi member who can see emotional bonds between people

MARCUS (6)

The planet known for its prominent rings

SATURN (6)

The universe as an orderly system

COSMOS (6)

The long-serving leader navigating a multi-front storm.

NETANYAHU (9)

The flat cardboard container that holds a round meal.

BOX (3)

The official cover month of the hero's very first comic book appearance in 1939.

MAY (3)

The central religious text of Islam

KORAN (5)

The last name of the shipwrecked Robinson in Daniel Defoe's novel

CRUSOE (6)

The day of the week when this particular cheesy celebration always falls.

FRIDAY (6)

The main character in a book, often admired for courage

HERO (4)

The written script of a film

SCREENPLAY (10)

To spend the winter in a dormant or inactive state

HIBERNATE (9)

To look through a location for hidden items

SEARCH (6)

The study of beauty and artistic taste

AESTHETICS (10)

The king whose touch turned everything into gold

MIDAS (5)

The spring month when the international film world descends on southern Europe

MAY (3)

The strip of plastic used in old cameras to capture images

FILM (4)

To bring a rescue animal into your home, a major focus of National Puppy Day.

ADOPT (5)

To finish filming the final scene.

WRAP (4)

Three-letter abbreviation for the standout player of a series.

MVP (3)

To teach a system with examples

TRAIN (5)

Type of garden hosting Rome's 2026 API-LOGO art installation

BOTANICAL (9)

The long landing strip required for the returning spacecraft.

RUNWAY (6)

The spectators, hearing you dance oddly.

AUDIENCE (8)

The Spanish word for a party or festival

FIESTA (6)

The military shadow that stood behind the sun of Japan

SHOGUN (6)

Two hundred circuits around the Brickyard.

LAPS (4)

The small window you look through to aim

VIEWER (6)

The place where the agents do their paperwork

OFFICE (6)

The cage that protects the vital rhythm

THORAX (6)

The violent god of war and son of Zeus

ARES (4)

The vast area beyond the atmosphere of the earth

SPACE (5)

The horn that sounds at the end of the game, sometimes beaten by a dramatic shot.

BUZZER (6)

The 'Final' number of teams heading to Indianapolis [1.2]

FOUR (4)

The divine blacksmith who worked at a volcanic forge

HEPHAESTUS (10)

The grand venue for the opening ceremony

STADIUM (7)

The first tier of balcony seating, offering great views of the choreography

MEZZANINE (9)

The spring festival where people throw colored powder

HOLI (4)

Tokyo's monstrous eater, perhaps a ghastly ghoul.

GHOUL (5)

The main events and story of a film

PLOT (4)

The act of using binoculars or a spotting scope to scan distant ridges for tan hides

GLASSING (8)

Tiny piece of silicon inside a computer

CHIP (4)

The Spanish word for a party or religious festival

FIESTA (6)

To group items into categories

CLASSIFY (8)

The highly anticipated Sunday when the 68-team field is revealed.

SELECTION (9)

The eighth planet from the Sun

NEPTUNE (7)

To protect against threats

SECURE (6)

Term for a pair of directors like the Coens or Wachowskis

DUO (3)

The Last of Us actor Pedro, fancast by Jack Black as a new antagonist.

PASCAL (6)

The actual geologic period when the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops lived

CRETACEOUS (10)

The process of a model generating an output from a given input

INFERENCE (9)

The lottery system used by states like Colorado to distribute limited tags

DRAW (4)

To allow light to reach the camera's sensor or film

EXPOSE (6)

The natural satellite that orbits the Earth

MOON (4)

To put something in a prominent place for people to see

DISPLAY (7)

The king of the world who took us to Pandora and the Titanic

CAMERON (7)

The American agency responsible for space exploration

NASA (4)

The official tasked with monitoring the paint and perimeter.

REFEREE (7)

The coveted first place on the starting grid

POLE (4)

The world on which we live

EARTH (5)

Three-letter broadcasting alliance behind the international event

EBU (3)

Try a hog's craft, perhaps, in map making.

CARTOGRAPHY (11)

The location of the FBI academy and headquarters

QUANTICO (8)

The squad leader who wears the ceremonial armband.

CAPTAIN (7)

The list of names shown at the end of a film

CREDITS (7)

The alleyway behind a building, or the rival singing group who claimed they were larger than life.

BACKSTREET (10)

The massive, ring-shaped corporate campus that opened to employees in 2017

PARK (4)

The eye of absolute command and rebellion

GEASS (5)

The satisfyingly crunchy exterior texture of a well-cooked serving.

CRISPY (6)

The element that serves as the backbone of the semiconductor industry

SILICON (7)

Tart style intentionally made acidic, frequently featuring fruit additions.

SOUR (4)

The facial hair Nick grows when he tries to look rugged

MOUSTACHE (9)

The sunken remains of a volcanic party

CALDERA (7)

The person who guides the making of a film

DIRECTOR (8)

The Brooklyn franchise that made history by signing a trailblazer.

DODGERS (7)

The red-haired vampire seeking revenge against Edward

VICTORIA (8)

Temporary storage for frequently accessed data

CACHE (5)

The dead language that remains the foundation of the Romance family

LATIN (5)

To move through water

SWIM (4)

The upper part of a womans dress

BODICE (6)

The two canine teeth found in an elk's upper jaw, often kept as trophies

IVORY (5)

The handle pulled by a bartender to start the liquid flowing.

TAP (3)

The swampy coniferous forest of high northern latitudes

TAIGA (5)

The undisputed King of this surface with a record fourteen titles.

NADAL (5)

TV network where you can watch the finals.

ION (3)

To break free from confinement or control

ESCAPE (6)

The topmost layer of the courts is actually made of crushed red material from this.

BRICK (5)

To rest and feel at ease

RELAX (5)

To silence your microphone

MUTE (4)

The collection of music accompanying a film

SOUNDTRACK (10)

To purify a liquid by heating and cooling

DISTILL (7)

Three vertical posts in the wicket

STUMPS (6)

The viewpoint from which a photo is taken

ANGLE (5)

Touring technician who hauls and tunes the gear.

ROADIE (6)

The group of players selected for a team

SQUAD (5)

To plan and follow a route through a complex environment

NAVIGATE (8)

Tech titan exclusively streaming the 2026 US race action.

APPLE (5)

The warm, continuous sound format heavily favored by traditional audiophiles.

ANALOG (6)

Tree's green solar panel

LEAF (4)

The highest natural adult male singing voice

TENOR (5)

Two-minute promotional cut shown before the main attraction begins.

TRAILER (7)

To assemble and modify film footage

EDIT (4)

The cloud hidden mountain home of the Greek pantheon

OLYMPUS (7)

The vehicle of choice when settling grudges on Rainbow Road.

KART (4)

There are seven of these in the modern NFL selection process.

ROUNDS (6)

The dreaded fate of an underperforming sitcom.

CANCELLED (9)

The main woody stem of a tree.

TRUNK (5)

The global organization that originally established World Book Day.

UNESCO (6)

Tech visionary who co-founded Apple

JOBS (4)

The Western broker aiming for a second phase in Gaza while striking the East.

TRUMP (5)

The cheeky fantasy RPG reboot highly anticipated by the Xbox community.

FABLE (5)

The primary profession of the main character during the series

TEACHER (7)

Tidal spot that serves as a reflecting pool for thousands of trees.

BASIN (5)

The crucial pass that directly sets up a teammate's goal

ASSIST (6)

The 53-man squad every drafted player hopes to make.

ROSTER (6)

The first name of the giant white whale in Herman Melville's book

MOBY (4)

The scrolling symbols showing current stock prices

TICKER (6)

To meet the required standard

QUALIFY (7)

The higher pressure point of a rhythmic beat

SYSTOLIC (8)

The force that attracts objects towards each other

GRAVITY (7)

To move from one scene to another without a transition

CUT (3)

The woven nylon that dances after a swish.

NET (3)

To verify accuracy or condition

CHECK (5)

The longest path to cross your legs

SARTORIUS (9)

The belief that life is meaningless and values are baseless

NIHILISM (8)

The person who guides the making of a movie

DIRECTOR (8)

The main subject or idea in a book

THEME (5)

The kind of guide that speaks directly into your ear

AUDIO (5)

To keep safe, like jams or natural habitats.

PRESERVE (8)

Three-dimensional art form

SCULPTURE (9)

The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions

HARMONY (7)

The seventh planet from the Sun

URANUS (6)

The main events of a play, novel, or movie

PLOT (4)

To examine data methodically and in detail

ANALYZE (7)

The PB Bestie treat that joined the freezer aisle in 2026

BLONDIE (7)

The primary official language of India written in Devanagari script

HINDI (5)

The last team standing on a Monday night in April

CHAMPION (8)

The ancient civilization known for the first Olympics

GREECE (6)

Tusked mammal, 'raw sul' could describe its state.

WALRUS (6)

The pharmaceutical sales rep who rents Jesses room for a while

REAGAN (6)

The red planet

MARS (4)

The pattern often found on Jesses vintage style dresses

POLKADOT (8)

To survive and move on to the next round.

ADVANCE (7)

Theme of restoration and fresh starts commonly celebrated as the days lengthen.

RENEWAL (7)

The last name of the author who wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four

ORWELL (6)

The famous dwarf planet once considered the ninth planet

PLUTO (5)

The complete vocabulary of a person or a specific field

LEXICON (7)

Third place metal

BRONZE (6)

To chemically convert sugars into alcohol, a crucial step in the process.

FERMENT (7)

The grassy area where the game is played

FIELD (5)

"The Big ____" (Nickname coined for the tournament).

DANCE (5)

The magical place Alice visits after falling down a rabbit hole

WONDERLAND (10)

The broader organization the detectives represent

POLICE (6)

The meaning provided by the pronouncer to clarify a tricky homonym.

DEFINITION (10)

Task force director who wields unchecked global authority.

STRATT (6)

The company's popular line of laptop computers, available in Air and Pro models

MACBOOK (7)

The force behind the creation of a galaxy far far away

LUCAS (5)

To take a picture

CAPTURE (7)

The 94-by-50-foot hardwood battlefield

COURT (5)

The amount of light allowed into the camera

EXPOSURE (8)

The denser, crumbly alternative to a raised ring

CAKE (4)

The stressful, imaginary sphere surrounding teams nervously awaiting an at-large bid.

BUBBLE (6)

The nickname used by the sergeant who formerly worked in Narcotics

FIN (3)

This sum, oddly, links two landmasses.

ISTHMUS (7)

Time-policing agency that might be taken over by the masked villain

TVA (3)

Tools designed to provide administrative access while hiding presence

ROOTKIT (7)

The process of questioning a suspect in the box

INTERROGATION (13)

The winged-sandaled messenger of the gods

HERMES (6)

The tiny foundation of the polar food web

KRILL (5)

The bustling business side of the event where distribution deals are struck

MARCHE (6)

The grassy playing surface, or a salesman's spiel

PITCH (5)

The Volturi guard who can inflict pain with her mind

JANE (4)

The slow, synchronized stroll to an Edward Elgar tune

MARCH (5)

The last name of Bella and her father Charlie

SWAN (4)

The period of time a team spends batting

INNINGS (7)

The official language of Cambodia with a very large alphabet

KHMER (5)

The undisputed Queen of Pop

MADONNA (7)

The color line that was famously broken in 1947.

BARRIER (7)

Three-leafed plant famously used to explain a holy concept [1.5]

SHAMROCK (8)

Trek through the wilderness

HIKE (4)

Teenage sensation Kimi, turning heads in the Silver Arrows garage.

ANTONELLI (9)

To seize someone by legal authority and take into custody

ARREST (6)

The first name of the vampire who falls in love with Bella

EDWARD (6)

Thick, pliable sugar paste rolled out for ultra-smooth commercial cake decorating.

FONDANT (7)

Traditional dance style featuring colorful, swirling skirts.

FOLKLORICO (10)

Tonal language of Southeast Asia

VIETNAMESE (10)

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding

COGNITION (9)

The punishment assigned to a convicted person

SENTENCE (8)

The first time sound was etched in stone or wax

PHONOGRAPH (10)

The medical professional you visit for your puppy's early vaccinations.

VET (3)

The reason for doing something or committing a crime

MOTIVE (6)

These might be highest for a straight-A student

HONORS (6)

The perpetually gloomy, crime-ridden city defended by our hero.

GOTHAM (6)

Top covering of a building

ROOF (4)

The branch of technology dealing with the design and application of automata

ROBOTICS (8)

The main artery that carries blood away from the heart

AORTA (5)

The Fat Tuesday celebration famous for beads and king cakes in New Orleans

MARDIGRAS (9)

Tall, slender structure

TOWER (5)

To refine a model with specific data

FINE (4)

The large structure lit to signify the start of the games

PYRE (4)

The private island where the couple spends their honeymoon

ISLE (4)

Type of girls who preached girl power and wore platform boots

SPICE (5)

TheBlueDevils, whoearnedthetopoverallspotinthe2026men'sbracket[1.3].

DUKE (4)

The Japanese art of folding paper into shapes

ORIGAMI (7)

Term for a handcrafted style of baking prioritizing tradition and high-quality ingredients.

ARTISAN (7)

The plot or narrative of a film

STORY (5)

The bronze clad personification of battle fury

ARES (4)

The flame is carried across countries using this

TORCH (5)

The honey-loving bear created by A.A. Milne

POOH (4)

The plot of a movie

STORY (5)

The venom-fueled brute famously known for snapping the hero's back.

BANE (4)

The master document outlining the course's entire journey

SYLLABUS (8)

The live digital broadcast watched by millions of eager gamers.

STREAM (6)

The evil character in a story

VILLAIN (7)

The intensely hot chamber where the culinary magic happens.

OVEN (4)

The entire group of actors in a production

CAST (4)

The state aiming to bring the championship back to Raleigh

CAROLINA (8)

The view that the self is all that can be known to exist

SOLIPSISM (9)

The iconic three-pointed emblem

STAR (4)

Trophy alternatives that players snip off with scissors after a big win

NETS (4)

Tall woody grass eaten by pandas

BAMBOO (6)

The head of the school who sets the tone for the year

PRINCIPAL (9)

To remove errors from software

DEBUG (5)

The humble keeper of the hearth fire

HESTIA (6)

The outer and thinner of the two bones in the lower leg

FIBULA (6)

The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles

ETHICS (6)

The official list of 26 active players ready for the first game

ROSTER (6)

The salty little fish that remains a highly divisive menu option.

ANCHOVY (7)

The Larry O'Brien prize hoisted by the victors.

TROPHY (6)

The points scored by the batting team

RUNS (4)

The platform where actors perform

STAGE (5)

The armored player who squats behind the dish

CATCHER (7)

The language of the Iliad and the Odyssey

GREEK (5)

The final orbiter built, replacing one lost in 1986.

ENDEAVOUR (9)

The main food served during the chaotic Thanksgiving episodes

TURKEY (6)

To imitate the behavior of a system

SIMULATE (8)

The formal conferral event

CEREMONY (8)

The wooden hammer used by a judge

GAVEL (5)

Training technique using food to guide a canine into a desired position.

LURING (6)

To let light hit the film or sensor

EXPOSE (6)

The official theme of the 2026 Dublin St. Patrick's Day festival, celebrating heritage [1.9].

ROOTS (5)

The number of points gained in a game

SCORE (5)

The hero known for completing twelve impossible labors

HERCULES (8)

The high part of a wall containing windows above eye level

CLERE (5)

The individual sheets of paper in a book.

PAGES (5)

Teacher, master, 'I' see 'sense' in wisdom.

SENSEI (6)

The empire that built the mountain city of Machu Picchu

INCA (4)

The process of drawing conclusions from data

INFERENCE (9)

The twice born god of wine and theater

DIONYSUS (8)

The leader of the Volturi who can read every thought by touch

ARO (3)

The mountain peak where the major deities reside

OLYMPUS (7)

The Scripps Cup is the prestigious one handed to the winner.

TROPHY (6)

Tusked mammal, where 'raw' might 'louse' up a meal.

WALRUS (6)

The lame blacksmith who forged divine weapons

HEPHAESTUS (10)

To make something look more attractive by adding items

DECORATE (8)

Type of network inspired by the biological brain

NEURAL (6)

The absolute worst-case scenario for a player's development.

FLOOR (5)

The nice guy who dates both Cece and Jess at different times

ROBBY (5)

To deceive or cover one's eyes with a clever trick.

HOODWINK (8)

The most humiliating prefix to "points"

NUL (3)

The principle of fairness and legal rightness

JUSTICE (7)

The main event of a Grand Prix weekend

RACE (4)

Two-channel sound reproduction format that largely replaced mono.

STEREO (6)

To observe a special occasion with festivities

CELEBRATE (9)

The highest pitched member of the string family

VIOLIN (6)

The flat, long-handled shovel used to slide pies into the heat.

PEEL (4)

The fluid that circulates in a plant, carrying water and nutrients.

SAP (3)

Tennis legend Williams who co-chaired the 2026 gala

VENUS (5)

The grueling postseason journey to the top

PLAYOFFS (8)

The written text that actors read from

SCRIPTS (7)

The private plane used by the team to travel

JET (3)

The gritty effort required to get crucial stops.

DEFENSE (7)

Three-letter acronym for the afternoon show where fans screamed for their favorite videos.

TRL (3)

The base part of a word, often derived from Latin or Greek.

ROOT (4)

Type of learning with labeled examples

SUPERVISED (10)

The river of hatred across which souls are ferried

STYX (4)

The quintessential buttery cinema snack

POPCORN (7)

The warm season unofficially kicked off by this long weekend

SUMMER (6)

The study of moral principles and conduct

ETHICS (6)

The tiny gap where signals jump between nerve cells

SYNAPSE (7)

The main sequence of events in a story

PLOT (4)

Topographical guide for a backpacker

MAP (3)

The month when everyone suddenly claims a bit of Irish ancestry.

MARCH (5)

The surprisingly effective hairpiece that kept a superstar's identity hidden.

WIG (3)

The final straightaway leading to the finish line.

STRETCH (7)

The landing pad for a molecular message

RECEPTOR (8)

The earliest period of the Mesozoic era, preceding the Jurassic

TRIASSIC (8)

The Ohio city where the First Four matchups traditionally tip off every year.

DAYTON (6)

The French word for a cheese made specifically from goat milk

CHEVRE (6)

The very first red-carpet screening of a highly anticipated picture.

PREMIERE (8)

The country music cousin that takes over the polo fields next.

STAGECOACH (10)

The aggressive counterpart to the strategic Athena

ARES (4)

The athletic trainer who moves in and out of the apartment

COACH (5)

Trickster god of Norse myth

LOKI (4)

Type of finish requiring a camera to determine who crossed first.

PHOTO (5)

The slope used in optimization to minimize error functions

GRADIENT (8)

The strength of a connection between nodes in a neural network

WEIGHT (6)

Traditional story, 'M', 'Y', 'T', 'H' make it true.

MYTH (4)

Tragic family name at the center of a major 2026 revival.

LOMAN (5)

Total number of runs made

SCORE (5)

Transmission component in a race car

GEAR (4)

To produce musical sounds with the voice

SING (4)

The liquid mixture poured onto the hot plates.

BATTER (6)

Throw a line, or a group of actors.

CAST (4)

The flagship sedan model, without a space

SCLASS (6)

The satisfying sound of a flawless jumper hitting nothing but nylon

SWISH (5)

The low-cost combat drone making its debut in the Iranian theater.

LUCAS (5)

To take a picture of something

CAPTURE (7)

The high one that dominates the horizon

DENALI (6)

The premium large-format screen choice for massive visual spectacles

IMAX (4)

The titan who stole fire to give to humanity

PROMETHEUS (10)

The official occupation of the franchise's heroes, despite their lack of actual pipe repairs.

PLUMBER (7)

Top metal for a winner

GOLD (4)

Three stumps with bails on top

WICKET (6)

The virgin huntress who roams the woods

ARTEMIS (7)

The status of dinosaurs before science controversially intervened

EXTINCT (7)

The nickname of the protagonist in Great Expectations

PIP (3)

Thrown out a group of actors.

CAST (4)

The main river that flows through the city of Rome

TIBER (5)

The guiding concept for the night's dress code, setting the tone for every outfit.

THEME (5)

The part of a plant that blooms and produces seeds.

FLOWER (6)

The empty space allegedly created by an innovative sailor in 1850

HOLE (4)

The slow and silent approach made once an elk has been spotted

STALK (5)

The ultimate test of endurance named after an ancient Greek messenger

MARATHON (8)

The BBC famously broadcast a 1957 hoax about harvesting this pasta from trees.

SPAGHETTI (9)

The edges of a picture

FRAME (5)

The wide central section of an entablature, often decorated with reliefs

FRIEZE (6)

The Japanese entertainment giant behind this iconic gaming universe.

NINTENDO (8)

To deduce or conclude information from evidence

INFER (5)

The study of where crimes occur to find a home base

GEOGRAPHY (9)

The shrill sound that stops play or ends the match

WHISTLE (7)

The reasoning principles used in robotic decision making

LOGIC (5)

Thetastyadjectiveusedtodescribetheroundofsixteen.

SWEET (5)

The vast setting located far, far away

GALAXY (6)

Trump's word for recent events in Minneapolis.

CHAOS (5)

The second operational orbiter, making its maiden voyage on STS-6.

CHALLENGER (10)

The antagonist everyone loves to hate, like Skeletor in this summer's reboot

VILLAIN (7)

The person in charge of a series, making it run smoothly.

SHOWRUNNER (10)

The model designed to generate realistic minute-long videos

SORA (4)

The legal process that follows a successful arrest

LITIGATION (10)

The study of value and valuation

AXIOLOGY (8)

The silent witness that never lies

EVIDENCE (8)

The top-billed act responsible for closing out the night.

HEADLINER (9)

The frozen battlefield where the championship is decided

RINK (4)

The fundamental acrobatic move used to hit blocks and squash foes.

JUMP (4)

Tall plant with a massive yellow bloom

SUNFLOWER (9)

The starting formation of the cars

GRID (4)

The surface where a movie is projected

SCREEN (6)

The Mexican icon who painted her own reality through pain

FRIDA (5)

To cause strong feelings of enthusiasm

EXCITE (6)

Table that organizes elements by atomic number

PERIODIC (8)

The stony skeletal architect of the reef

CORAL (5)

The small room where a prisoner is held

CELL (4)

The Master of Suspense who never won a Best Director Oscar

HITCHCOCK (9)

The young girl who lives in the Swiss Alps in a book by Johanna Spyri

HEIDI (5)

Thin stick used by a conductor to lead the orchestra

BATON (5)

The job Nick holds for most of the show

BARTENDER (9)

Three-leafed plant famously used as a teaching tool by Ireland's patron saint.

SHAMROCK (8)

The river that forms the boundary between Earth and Hades

STYX (4)

The harmful treatment that often defines special victims cases

ABUSE (5)

Team trying to score

OFFENSE (7)

Type of giant illuminated wheel offering panoramic views of the grounds

FERRIS (6)

The tournament tree that narrows 16 playoff teams down to one champion.

BRACKET (7)

The memorable line celebrated every year by fans of the 2000 comedy

QUOTE (5)

To artificially replicate an organism's biological blueprint

CLONE (5)

The number of moles of solute per liter of solution

MOLARITY (8)

The bad guy, perhaps in a wicked plan.

VILLAIN (7)

The basket itself

HOOP (4)

The distinctive, pointy-eared headpiece worn to strike fear into criminals.

COWL (4)

The official who makes decisions on the field

UMPIRE (6)

The distance to a target, often measured by a laser before taking a shot

RANGE (5)

Type of bowling with high speed

FAST (4)

To save someone from a dangerous or distressing situation

RESCUE (6)

The medical examiner who provides crucial forensic evidence

WARNER (6)

The music and lyrics combined

SCORE (5)

The words of a song

LYRIC (5)

The possibility of losing money on an investment

RISK (4)

To find an answer to or explanation for a mystery

SOLVE (5)

To control, as a director does a production

REIN (4)

The hue worn by nearly 80 percent of celebrants in 2026 to avoid getting pinched

GREEN (5)

The tough outer covering of a tree trunk.

BARK (4)

Theatrical genre represented by the frowning mask

TRAGEDY (7)

Trailblazing competitor seeking the Women's Intercontinental prize.

LYNCH (5)

The region above the Earth where clouds and stars appear

SKY (3)

The city where Bella lived before moving to Washington

PHOENIX (7)

The type of creature in Nicks novel titled Julius Pepperwood

ZOMBIE (6)

The specific day in the fourth month when this hoppy holiday is celebrated.

SEVENTH (7)

The chaotic, unpredictable nature of March college basketball.

MADNESS (7)

The explosive, high-energy genre that traditionally rules the summer box office

ACTION (6)

The symbolic reasoning foundation for early expert systems

LOGIC (5)

Taking the ball away from the ball handler

STEAL (5)

The brow that launched a thousand self portraits

KHALO (5)

The glass surface where images are displayed

SCREEN (6)

The vibrating part of a clarinet or saxophone

REED (4)

The six staggered start groups implemented for the 2026 race.

WAVES (5)

To restructure code, a 'far more' act of tidying.

REFACTOR (8)

The sequel's scope will be a little ___ according to the returning cast.

BROADER (7)

Tree with thin papery white bark

BIRCH (5)

The scalloped, flowing garment used for gliding over the urban skyline.

CAPE (4)

The young newborn vampire from the Seattle army

BREE (4)

The iconic museum staircase that serves as fashion's ultimate stage.

STEPS (5)

The belt that holds the world together at its widest

EQUATOR (7)

The ability to retrieve information

RECALL (6)

The legal team representing the accused in court

DEFENSE (7)

The glass piece on the front of a camera

LENS (4)

Thick stands of trees where elk hide during the heat of the day

TIMBER (6)

The bloodthirsty son of Zeus and Hera who loves battle

ARES (4)

The precise, often diamond-tipped component that physically reads the music.

STYLUS (6)

Trusty reptilian steed with a penchant for swallowing enemies whole.

YOSHI (5)

The opening in a lens that controls light

APERTURE (8)

The divine blacksmith who forged the armor of Achilles

HEPHAESTUS (10)

To make changes to a photo

EDIT (4)

The shorter of the two bones in the human forearm

RADIUS (6)

Texas host city preparing its venues for the 2026 games

DALLAS (6)

The language spoken by the ancient Romans

LATIN (5)

The central part, essential for stability.

CORE (4)

The main good character in a story

HERO (4)

To speed up, informally

ACCEL (5)

Tallest land animal

GIRAFFE (7)

The visionary calling the shots behind the camera

DIRECTOR (8)

The art of code creation by AI, a stony set-up, perhaps?

SYNTHESIS (9)

The use of humor or irony to criticize people's stupidity

SATIRE (6)

The group of people watching a film

AUDIENCE (8)

The city that served as the heart of a massive Italian empire

ROME (4)

Type of bowling that makes the ball curve

SPIN (4)

They hear and watch, often with a certain 'dance' in their step.

AUDIENCE (8)

To make changes to a photograph

EDIT (4)

The subterranean headquarters hidden deep beneath a sprawling manor.

CAVE (4)

The large fabric hanging that covers the stage

CURTAIN (7)

The World Wide ___

WEB (3)

The94-foothardwoodfloorwherethedramatictournamentgamesareplayed.

COURT (5)

The lunar program that preceded the winged spacecraft era.

APOLLO (6)

Traveler's folded guide

MAP (3)

The tallest player usually stationed in the paint

CENTER (6)

The final battle and end of the world in Norse lore

RAGNAROK (8)

The part of a digital camera that detects light

SENSOR (6)

The celebratory gathering of summer gaming announcements.

FEST (4)

The human girl who moves to Forks and meets the Cullens

BELLA (5)

Thorny sounding botanical family that claims the cherry tree.

ROSACEAE (8)

The only world known to support life

EARTH (5)

To make the best or most effective use of a situation or resource

OPTIMIZE (8)

The ground truth or answer assigned to a piece of data

LABEL (5)

The alphabet used for writing Russian and Bulgarian

CYRILLIC (8)

Theater employee who might guide you down a dark aisle with a flashlight.

USHER (5)

The sheer, unpredictable chaos of the spring college basketball season

MADNESS (7)

The tracker vampire who hunts Bella in the first book

JAMES (5)

The voucher exchanged by children for a free World Book Day read.

TOKEN (5)

Thinker famous for concluding I think therefore I am

DESCARTES (9)

The rejection of all religious and moral principles

NIHILISM (8)

Tomas who secured the late game-winning goal in the series opener

HERTL (5)

The type of jar Schmidt must put money in when he is arrogant

DOUCHEBAG (9)

The input text given to a generative model to elicit a response

PROMPT (6)

The king of the Roman gods

JUPITER (7)

The ring-bearer in The Lord of the Rings

FRODO (5)

The divine blacksmith who works at a forge

HEPHAESTUS (10)

To look at and comprehend the meaning of written words

READ (4)

Thepredictiongridyoufillout, whichinevitablygetsruinedbythesecondround.

BRACKET (7)

The final resolution, found in a DOUNEE MENT.

DENOUEMENT (10)

The other half of the directing team bringing the novel to theaters.

MILLER (6)

The rainy Washington town where the story takes place

FORKS (5)

The month when millions suddenly claim a bit of Celtic heritage

MARCH (5)

The final decision rendered by a jury

VERDICT (7)

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion

INERTIA (7)

The seat where the judge sits

BENCH (5)

The force that pulls objects toward each other

GRAVITY (7)

The mode that allows for real-time spoken interaction

VOICE (5)

To try and reach a target score

CHASE (5)

The illuminated bat-shaped symbol projected into the night sky.

SIGNAL (6)

To achieve victory in a game

WIN (3)

To give evidence under oath

TESTIFY (7)

This vibrant green tea powder is taking over modern cake and pastry flavors.

MATCHA (6)

The Roman god of war

MARS (4)

Tableland, often flat-topped in the Southwest.

MESA (4)

Theatrical, exaggerated aesthetic that the contest is famous for

CAMP (4)

The beautiful blonde vampire who is married to Emmett

ROSALIE (7)

The art form celebrated extensively during this fortnight

CINEMA (6)

The basic unit of matter

ATOM (4)

The convenient service that brings the hot boxes straight to your door.

DELIVERY (8)

The American Theatre ___ (co-presenter of the awards)

WING (4)

Three-count victory on the mat.

PINFALL (7)

The universe regarded as a complex and orderly system

COSMOS (6)

Tall coniferous tree that dominates the course landscape.

PINE (4)

The nation widely celebrated globally every March 17th

IRELAND (7)

The vast area beyond Earths atmosphere

SPACE (5)

The condition that makes you forget your own clue

AMNESIA (7)

The measure of disorder or randomness in a physical system

ENTROPY (7)

The eight teams one win away from the Final Four.

ELITE (5)

The words that make up a song

LYRIC (5)

The repetitive phrase whispered during a dark ritual

MANTRA (6)

The city that was the center of a vast Italian empire

ROME (4)

Tailors' art, oddly enough, related to clothes

SARTORIAL (9)

The native Celtic speech of Scotland or Ireland

GAELIC (6)

Track and field barrier

HURDLE (6)

The kind of double life led by the show's main character.

DUAL (4)

Type of speculative selection list made by pundits.

MOCK (4)

The Hindu festival of lights

DIWALI (6)

The group of people watching the show

AUDIENCE (8)

The expression or application of human creative skill

ART (3)

The rhythmic pulse of the moons gravity

TIDE (4)

To look at and comprehend written words

READ (4)

The action or crime of stealing

THEFT (5)

To bounce the ball down the floor.

DRIBBLE (7)

Type of 'being' that keeps a timeline from dying, as mentioned by Paradox

ANCHOR (6)

The Greek god of war known for his bloodlust

ARES (4)

The three vertical posts that the batter defends

STUMPS (6)

The ultimate racing achievement requires winning the Triple ___.

CROWN (5)

The final moments before the screen cuts to black.

ENDING (6)

To develop a model using data

TRAIN (5)

The person responsible for calling balls and strikes

UMPIRE (6)

The chest-rattling low frequencies dominating the dance tents.

BASS (4)

The three-point line's shape

ARC (3)

The Broadway ___ (trade association co-presenting the Tonys)

LEAGUE (6)

The word preceding Comics in the legendary title where the Bat debuted in issue 27.

DETECTIVE (9)

The digital PC storefront where gamers rush to update their wishlists.

STEAM (5)

The flat green part of a plant that grows from a stem

LEAF (4)

Thinker who studies fundamental questions

PHILOSOPHER (11)

The iconic architectural structures overlooking the grandstand.

TWINSPIRES (10)

Titular masked monarch taking center stage in Phase Six

DOOM (4)

Twiggy home prepared by birds for the mating season.

NEST (4)

The process of acquiring knowledge or skills, as in ML

LEARNING (8)

The southern seat where transitional forces eye a formal split.

ADEN (4)

The chore that Schmidt obsessively does for the entire loft

LAUNDRY (7)

The civilization known for its advanced calendar and temples

MAYA (4)

The famously colored walkway where the world's most scrutinized arrivals happen.

CARPET (6)

Type of tire for rainy conditions

WET (3)

Turn pale, or briefly immerse in boiling water

BLANCH (6)

Traditions passed down

HERITAGE (8)

The tech giant and primary multi-billion dollar investor

MICROSOFT (9)

The number of runs awarded for hitting the ball to the rope with a bounce

FOUR (4)

The doctor and father figure of the Cullen coven

CARLISLE (8)

The rough outer covering of a tree trunk

BARK (4)

The expansive canvas for nocturnal observers.

SKY (3)

The customs and arts of a particular group or nation

CULTURE (7)

The dreaded sound that signals a speller has made a mistake.

BELL (4)

Title given to the winner of the World Cup trophy

CHAMPIONS (9)

The part of a plant that grows underground and absorbs water

ROOT (4)

The billionaire identity hiding beneath the cowl.

BRUCE (5)

The process of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes

JUSTICE (7)

To play media continuously over the internet

STREAM (6)

The sequence of songs an artist chooses to perform.

SETLIST (7)

The squad leader who wears an armband

CAPTAIN (7)

To transfer files from the internet

DOWNLOAD (8)

Theory that mind and body are distinct entities

DUALISM (7)

The mother of Persephone who controls the seasons

DEMETER (7)

The basic acid of a building block

AMINO (5)

Tiny infectious agent

VIRUS (5)

The ultimate victor standing alone at the season's end

CHAMPION (8)

The drink of the gods that granted immortality

NECTAR (6)

The metal shield carried by federal agents

BADGE (5)

The small part of a flowering plant that can grow into a new one

SEED (4)

Thehornthatsoundsjustbeforeadramatic, game-winningshotfalls.

BUZZER (6)

The exact number of years the Caped Crusader has been fighting crime as of 2026.

EIGHTYSEVEN (11)

The daughter that a certain Asgardian is praying to get back

LOVE (4)

Type of bowling that makes the ball deviate

SPIN (4)

The unit of luminous flux in the International System

LUMEN (5)

The fourth planet from the sun often called the Red Planet

MARS (4)

The sideline strategist drawing up the crucial plays.

COACH (5)

The ubiquitous host and producer of June's biggest gaming stage show.

KEIGHLEY (8)

Triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof

GABLE (5)

Traditional floral symbol of maternal love and appreciation.

CARNATION (9)

The distance between the front and rear axles

WHEELBASE (9)

Tyrannosaurus nickname meaning king in Latin

REX (3)

To take a person into legal custody

ARREST (6)

The illegal movement of people for exploitation

TRAFFICKING (11)

The red dirt is famous for producing a much higher one of these than grass.

BOUNCE (6)

The total emptiness found in deep space

VOID (4)

The upper seating area in a theater

BALCONY (7)

Two-door vehicle, up close, perhaps.

COUPE (5)

Type of tree lining the iconic entrance lane to the clubhouse.

MAGNOLIA (8)

The elastic protein network providing artisanal bread with its signature chewy structure.

GLUTEN (6)

The cloth container holding your alphabetical fate

BAG (3)

The winner of a competition or series of games

CHAMPION (8)

Type of queen that an undercover operative must pretend to be

BEAUTY (6)

The player who typically leads the huddle and calls the plays

QUARTERBACK (11)

The lone player permitted to handle the ball in the penalty box.

KEEPER (6)

The hot-headed god of violent warfare

ARES (4)

The state of being known by many people

FAME (4)

The Olympic one is located in Lausanne Switzerland

MUSEUM (6)

Ticket cashing only if you guess the winner and runner-up perfectly.

EXACTA (6)

To make a subject appear closer

ZOOM (4)

The international governing body organizing the global tournament [1.1.1]

FIFA (4)

To look for information on the web

SEARCH (6)

The lay, perhaps, is sound.

HEALTHY (7)

To take someone away illegally by force

KIDNAP (6)

The piece of machinery in the loft building that is often broken

ELEVATOR (8)

The specific day of the week this holiday always occupies

SUNDAY (6)

Tool for seeing tiny things

MICROSCOPE (10)

To cut neatly, or keep in shape.

TRIM (4)

The mesh target behind the goalkeeper

NET (3)

The iron horse that carries oxygen through the veins

HEMOGLOBIN (10)

The great lion in The Chronicles of Narnia

ASLAN (5)

To hold a position for a picture

POSE (4)

The male lead in a famous Shakespearean tragedy about star-crossed lovers

ROMEO (5)

Take the ball from an opponent

STEAL (5)

The mental action or process that AGI aims to replicate

COGNITION (9)

The smallest type of blood vessel in the body

CAPILLARY (9)

The brave main character who saves the day

HERO (4)

The astrological house associated with values and possessions

SECOND (6)

The world or the state of things as they actually exist

REALITY (7)

The diplomatic language of the world for several centuries

FRENCH (6)

The written text of a play or film

SCRIPT (6)

The intended person or place of an attack

TARGET (6)

The language of computers

CODE (4)

The classic intersecting pattern that traps all the delicious toppings.

GRID (4)

The involuntary process where a wolf finds their soulmate

IMPRINT (7)

The golden statuette awarded for excellence in film

OSCAR (5)

The unit executing plays to find an open look.

OFFENSE (7)

The lead star's real-life mother, making an appearance in the 2026 event.

TISH (4)

The goal consisting of a rim and net

BASKET (6)

The player who stands behind the stumps to catch the ball

KEEPER (6)

The new name in Damascus after the fall of a decades-old dynasty.

SHARAA (6)

The distance between successive crests of a wave

WAVELENGTH (10)

Two-time champion who was "Euphoric" and "Tattooed"

LOREEN (6)

The specific type of offender the unit frequently pursues

RAPIST (6)

Traditional cow-derived base that some customers avoid

DAIRY (5)

The clock that counts down the speller's allotted two minutes.

TIMER (5)

The innermost, darkest part of a shadow.

UMBRA (5)

The very first public showing of a new movie

PREMIERE (8)

The sound of a ball hitting only the net

SWISH (5)

The physical medium celebrated every April, affectionately referred to as wax [1.1].

VINYL (5)

The opening round-robin stage before the knockout rounds

GROUP (5)

Type of Mountain ride overlay returning to Disneyland for May the Fourth 2026.

HYPERSPACE (10)

The 2026 dress code explicitly declares that Fashion is ___.

ART (3)

Type of rebellion that kicked off the modern rights movement

RIOT (4)

The delay between a command and the resulting physical action

LATENCY (7)

Top-fermented drink that typically ferments at warmer temperatures.

ALE (3)

The tying up of loose ends before the credits roll.

RESOLUTION (10)

The overall No. 1 seed in the 2026 tournament, led by Cameron Boozer

DUKE (4)

Three-tiered stand for top finishers

PODIUM (6)

The Volturi guard who can cut off all physical senses

ALEC (4)

The hardest substance in the human body covering the teeth

ENAMEL (6)

The archer constellation hosting the late-May 2026 spectacle.

SAGITTARIUS (11)

The heavy base or box on which a column or statue rests

PLINTH (6)

The man with a magical aging portrait in Oscar Wilde's novel

DORIAN (6)

The movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane

OSMOSIS (7)

The musical instruments Jess teaches to a group of troubled teens

BELLS (5)

The climactic best-of-seven showdown

FINALS (6)

The Eastern or Western division of the league.

CONFERENCE (10)

The floor-spacer waiting in the corner for a kick-out pass.

SHOOTER (7)

The curved path of a celestial object around a star or planet

ORBIT (5)

The October holiday where people wear costumes and go trick-or-treating

HALLOWEEN (9)

The clef used for higher pitched notes

TREBLE (6)

The fourth state of matter

PLASMA (6)

The ceremony where Bella and Edward get married

WEDDING (7)

Turn from ice to water under the strengthening sun.

MELT (4)

The most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language

ESPERANTO (9)

The magic number of pieces you draw at the start

SEVEN (5)

Team uniform top

JERSEY (6)

The complete set of genetic instructions for an organism

GENOME (6)

Tiny crustacean, often found in an 'ill' state when eaten by whales.

KRILL (5)

The very last part, found in 'fine ale' oddly.

FINALE (6)

The conversation between characters in a film

DIALOGUE (8)

The divine reason implicit in the cosmos

LOGOS (5)

Temporary storage for web files

CACHE (5)

The youngest member of the wolf pack and friend to Edward

SETH (4)

The item Jess is holding in the opening credits of early seasons

UMBRELLA (8)

The man behind the mouse

DISNEY (6)

The last name of the tactical expert Derek

MORGAN (6)

The veteran agent who helped start the unit

ROSSI (5)

Transfer of thermal energy

HEAT (4)

The architectural arch that frames the action in many traditional houses

PROSCENIUM (10)

Tree known for its syrup and lobed leaves

MAPLE (5)

The curved path of a satellite around a planet

ORBIT (5)

To adjust a camera for a clear image

FOCUS (5)

The leaves of a book, magazine, or newspaper.

PAGES (5)

To cook food in hot oil or fat

FRY (3)

The confusing drinking game the roommates play involving floor lava

TRUEAMERICAN (12)

Translates high-level code to machine code

COMPILER (8)

Type of engine in chips dedicated to machine learning tasks.

NEURAL (6)

The survival tool used by Brian in Gary Paulsen's classic adventure

HATCHET (7)

The prevailing hue of the celebrated canopy.

PINK (4)

The heavy fabric used by artists for oil paintings

CANVAS (6)

The 2022 film where prehistoric creatures roam freely among humans

DOMINION (8)

The practice of providing equal access and representation for all

INCLUSION (9)

Traditional roasted meat, or a butter sculpture shape for the feast

LAMB (4)

The most famous command shouted on a movie set

ACTION (6)

The traditional racing surface at Pimlico, unlike the grass of Ascot.

DIRT (4)

Track official waving flags

MARSHAL (7)

The high point of a trip to the last frontier

DENALI (6)

Thick icing layer that might be strawberry or vanilla

FROSTING (8)

The first woman who opened a forbidden jar

PANDORA (7)

The fallen evil regime whose warlords remain scattered in the 2026 Mando movie.

EMPIRE (6)

The king of gods who brandishes a lightning bolt

ZEUS (4)

The striped official tasked with maintaining order and calling infractions

REFEREE (7)

The gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone

MEDUSA (6)

The Indian spring festival known for throwing colored powders

HOLI (4)

The venue where the crowd gathers to watch

ARENA (5)

The primary purpose of many Ferraris

RACING (6)

The daughter of Bella and Edward

RENESMEE (8)

Tim, the CEO delivering his potential swan song presentation.

COOK (4)

The substance in a solution that does the dissolving

SOLVENT (7)

The side that is being sued or accused

DEFENSE (7)

Three vertical posts

STUMPS (6)

Taking too many steps without dribbling

TRAVEL (6)

The greatest warrior whose vulnerability was his heel

ACHILLES (8)

The fifth element of flavor

UMAMI (5)

The other energy giant flowing through the world's most watched strait.

GAS (3)

The art of growing miniature trees in containers

BONSAI (6)

The prize given to the runner-up

SILVER (6)

The iconic high-pitched scream of a bull heard most often during the September rut

BUGLE (5)

The protagonist's loyal best friend who shared her massive secret.

LILLY (5)

The Big ___ is a popular moniker for the NCAA tournament.

DANCE (5)

The starting position assigned to a horse in the starting gate.

POST (4)

The actual interactive portion of a title, often demanded over CGI cinematics.

GAMEPLAY (8)

The written form of a musical composition.

SCORE (5)

Tuesday or Thursday qualifying hurdle

SEMI (4)

To officially withdraw a horse from the field before the gates open.

SCRATCH (7)

The last name of Nicks detective alter ego

PEPPERWOOD (10)

The study of motion without considering the forces causing it

KINEMATICS (10)

The small creature Bilbo Baggins is in J.R.R. Tolkien's book

HOBBIT (6)

The superuser account

ROOT (4)

To cut into a shape

CARVE (5)

To pass another car during a race

OVERTAKE (8)

To turn earth over, or 'low' in the field.

PLOW (4)

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