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Cryptic Crossword Dictionary : C
A dictionary of words and phrases often encountered in cryptic crossword clues - words that may mean something more, or something other, than is indicated by their surface meaning.
CABINET MAKER
May be a cryptic definition indicating the letters PM or EDEN, BROWN, MAY, etc.
- Sample clue:
- Old cabinet maker made happy by building material (9)
CALCIUM
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CA.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clue:
- Where one may eat food providing calcium and iron (4)
CAN BE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Mere lies can be more becoming (8)
CAN OPENER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CAPITAL
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letter of a word that is capitalised in the clue: e.g. capital of France = F.
CAPTURE
1. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BAG or COP or NET etc.
2. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CAPTURED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Flag shown when queen is captured by bishop and rook (5)
- Group of fifty captured by famous general (7)
CAPTURES
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Scintillating secret agent captures boat (6)
CAPTURING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Group of soldiers or police capturing rebel leader (5)
CAR
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter T or the letters KA, FORD, etc.
CARBON
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clue:
- Carbon is used for filling in gold tooth (7)
CARELESS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- One who looks after young rabbits yet is careless (10)
CARELESSLY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- I plan too carelessly, but it's not mandatory (8)
CARE OF
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CO.
- Sample clue:
- Ships taking care of flowers (8)
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters WI (West Indies).
CARTOGRAPHERS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters OS (Ordnance Survey).
CAST
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Dozens of bakers cast their nets (9)
CAST UP
Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).
- Sample clue:
- No-one cast up on a Scottish island (4)
CASUAL SHIRT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter T.
CAT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters TOM.
CATCH
1. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BAG or COP or NET etc.
2. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CATCHES
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CATCHING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CATHEDRAL
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter ELY.
CATHOLIC
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RC.
CAT'S TAIL
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter T.
CAUGHT
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CAVORT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Naked lord to cavort in London thoroughfare (3,4,4)
CAVORTING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Sly ancients cavorting continually (11)
CELSIUS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CENT(S)
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CENTRAL LINE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters IN.
CENTRE COURT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter U.
CHANGE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Panto character made to change (4)
- Fruit in trees can change (10)
- A bit of a change for show team (8)
CHANGED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Your label changed colour (5,4)
- Have boys in cradle changed much? (12)
CHANGES
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Cornelia changes her name (8)
- Marginal changes may be frightening (8)
CHANGING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Is pea changing colour? (5)
- Serious actor changing at Reading (9)
CHANNEL ISLANDS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CI.
- Sample clue:
- A girl from the Channel Islands taking everything back (5)
CHAOS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- What chaos when the snow melts! (4)
CHAOTIC
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Tar on trailer in chaotic weather conditions (10,4)
CHAPTER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CHARACTERS
1. Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- See dumb characters bewildered (7)
- Jokers as demonic characters (9)
2. Possibly a hidden word indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Characters from Capri on another island (4)
- Characters in a magazine were more up-to-date (5)
CHARLIE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
(See NATO Phonetic Alphabet).
- Sample clue:
- Charlie stirs drinks freely and noisily (8)
CHERISHED
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters PET.
CHLORINE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CL.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clue:
- Chlorine's always sharp (6)
CHOP
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CHOPPED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Kate chopped wood (4)
- Is bread chopped and cooked? (7)
CHOPPED UP
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Aunt Sal chopped up fruit (7)
CHROMOSOME
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter X or Y.
CHURCH
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CE or CH.
CIRCA
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CIRCLE
1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter O.
CIRCLED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CIRCLES
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CIRCLING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CIRCULATING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CITY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C or the letters EC (City of London postcode).
Cathedral city may indicate the letters ELY.
Ancient city may indicate the letters UR.
US city may indicate the letters LA or NY. American city may also indicate RIO
- Sample clues:
- City everyone is to visit (4)
- Child going round ancient city is a sightseer (7)
CITY CENTRE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters IT.
CIVIL SERVICE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CS.
CLASSY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter U.
CLEF
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter G.
CLIMBING
Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).
CLIPPED
Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of a final letter.
CLUBS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CLUTCH
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CLUTCHED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CLUTCHES
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CLUTCHING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
COCKTAIL
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COIN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P.
COLD
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
COMING BACK
Possibly a reversal indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Many coming back from Bristol finally (4)
- Insect observed coming back quietly (4)
COMING ROUND
Possibly a reversal indicator.
COMING UP
Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).
COMMANDER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CO or OC.
COMPANY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CO or TWO (referring to the saying "Two's company").
COMPLICATE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COMPLICATED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COMPONENTS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COMPOSED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COMPOUND
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COMPRISE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CONCEALED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Animal concealed in red bag (6)
- Story concealed in neat code (8)
- Nymphs concealed in reeds (7)
CONCEALING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Japanese entertainer concealing his age (6)
CONCEALS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Vain editor conceals source (10)
CONFUSE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Confuse sly age with wisdom (6)
- Chants may confuse sailor (9)
CONFUSED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Israelite leader some confused with Samaritan leader (5)
- Confused in game or puzzle (6)
- Marine mammals confused men at sea (8)
CONFUSING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Case confusing experts (4)
- Trek less confusing for flighty hunters (8)
CONFUSION
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Dashing in great confusion (7)
- Confused agitation or restful confusion (7)
CONSERVATIONISTS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters NT (National Trust).
CONSERVATIVE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C or the letters CON or TORY.
CONSTANT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C or the letters PI.
CONSTITUENTS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CONSTRUCT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CONTAIN
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CONTAINED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Loose bit of lettuce contained in bag (5)
CONTAINING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Drink containing very soft fruit (5)
- Odd trinkets containing uranium (7)
CONTAINS
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
CONTENT
1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Immature beast's quite content (6)
- If season does not start, poet is content (9)
2. Possibly a hidden word indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Animal that's not terribly content (5)
- A city in Ohio, content from midday to nightfall (6)
CONTENTS
1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
2. Possibly a hidden word indicator.
CONTRIBUTING
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
- Sample clue:
- A slight cold contributing to much illness (5)
CONVERSATION
Phrases such as in conversation may be homophone indicators.
Look up another word?
CONVERSION
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CONVERT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CONVERTED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CONVERTIBLE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COOK
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COOKED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CO-ORDINATE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter X or Y.
COPPER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CU.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clue:
- Copper-coloured - like kippers? (5)
COPPERS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P.
COPY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters APE.
COPYRIGHT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter C.
CORED
Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of one or more central letters from a word.
CORK TIP
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter K.
CORRECT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CORRECTED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CORRUPT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CORRUPTED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
COULD BE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Great need could be created (9)
COUNTER
Possibly a reversal indicator.
COUNTY
1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CO.
2. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating an abbreviated county name, e.g. BEDS, BUCKS, NOTTS.
COVER
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
COVERED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
COVERING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
COVERS
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
COW'S TAIL
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter W.
CRACK
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CRACKED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CRACKERS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CRACKING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CRAZED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Measure crazed china (5)
CRAZY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CREDIT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CR.
CRIMINAL
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CROSS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter X or the letters MAD etc.
CRY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter O or the letters AH or OH or HI.
CUCKOO
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CUNNINGLY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CURIOUS
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CURIOUSLY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
CURRENT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter I or the letters AC or DC.
CURTAILED
Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of a final letter.
CUT
Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of a final letter.
CUT SHORT
Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of a final letter.
Errors or omissions? Please let us know
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