Extend Across Crossword Clue

By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 03, 2025

Wondering about the Extend across crossword clue featured in the May 03, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've done the hard work and pinpointed the precise 4-letter answer you're looking for. However, if you're up for a more interactive puzzle-solving experience, we've got engaging features to help you out. Try revealing the solution gradually with our progressive letter reveal tool, or explore our carefully crafted hints—like a helpful anagram, an alternative clue that shares the same answer, or a detailed definition to guide your thinking. Plus, we've made navigating other clues from the same puzzle easy, allowing you to solve multiple clues seamlessly. Ready to become a crossword master? Let's dive deeper into today's puzzle!

Crossword Answer:

NEW YORK TIMES MINI, MAY / 03 / 2025
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About This Clue

The clue "Extend across" from the May 3, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword is a straightforward definition clue. It directly describes the action implied by the answer "SPAN" without any wordplay or misdirection. This type of clue relies on the solver's vocabulary knowledge rather than puzzle-solving tricks. The relationship between the clue and answer is clear: to span something means to extend across its width or length. This clue follows the NYT Mini Crossword's tendency to use concise, accessible clues for common words, making it appropriate for solvers of various experience levels. The clue's brevity—just two words—is characteristic of the Mini Crossword format, which generally features more straightforward cluing than the full-sized NYT Crossword. Despite its simplicity, the clue effectively points to a specific meaning of "span" as a verb rather than its noun forms, which refer to measurements or timeframes.

Context for "SPAN"

The word "span" has rich etymological roots, deriving from the Old English "spann," which referred to the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended—one of humanity's earliest measuring tools. This connection to measurement and extension has remained central to the word's meaning throughout its evolution. As a verb, "span" means to extend across a space or time, to bridge a gap, or to encompass something from end to end. For example, a bridge might span a river, or a career might span decades. This sense of extension or coverage is precisely what the crossword clue "Extend across" evokes. As a noun, "span" can refer to the full extent of something from end to end (the span of a bridge), a period of time (a life span), or a measurement (a wingspan). In architecture and engineering, a span specifically refers to the distance between two intermediate supports, like the pillars of a bridge. The word appears in numerous idioms and phrases: "attention span," "wing span," and "life span" are all common compounds. The expression "bridge the span" metaphorically refers to connecting different ideas, groups, or perspectives. In mathematics and science, "span" has specialized meanings relating to vector spaces and sets of numbers, indicating the range covered by a particular set of elements. The versatility of "span" as both a noun and verb, and its application across many contexts from the concrete (physical distances) to the abstract (periods of time), makes it a rich and useful word in English vocabulary.

NYT Mini Crossword Tips

When solving clues like "Extend across" in the NYT Mini Crossword, keep these strategies in mind: First, recognize definition-based clues. Unlike wordplay clues that involve puns or anagrams, "Extend across" is a straightforward definition clue that directly describes the meaning of the answer. For these clues, focus on synonyms or closely related terms. Second, consider word length. In this case, knowing you need a 4-letter word immediately narrows the possibilities. Common 4-letter words that mean "extend across" include SPAN, ARCH, or REACH, though context and crossing letters will help determine the specific answer. Third, use crossing letters effectively. As you solve other clues in the puzzle, the intersecting letters will help confirm that SPAN is the correct answer for "Extend across." Fourth, remember that Mini Crossword clues tend to use more common vocabulary and straightforward cluing compared to the full-sized NYT Crossword. The answer is likely to be a familiar word rather than obscure terminology. Fifth, watch for verb vs. noun distinctions. The clue "Extend across" uses a verb phrase, suggesting the answer is also a verb (or can function as one). SPAN works as both a noun and a verb, but the clue specifically highlights its verb usage. Finally, the Mini Crossword often reuses common crossword vocabulary. If you regularly solve these puzzles, you'll start to recognize frequently appearing short words like SPAN, which can give you a significant advantage in quickly completing the grid.

Related Crossword Answers

SPAN

Clue: "Distance from end to end"

REACH

Clue: "Extend to touch"

ARCH

Clue: "Curved structure that spans an opening"

CROSS

Clue: "Go from one side to the other"

More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (May 3, 2025)

ACROSS

DOWN