Dot on a computer screen — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 17, 2025)
Tech terminology sits near the top of the down stack, referencing the smallest visible unit of a digital display. Below you will confirm how PIXEL fits, how Word Tips hints at the same definition, and how intersecting entries confirm every letter. All apostrophes appear as ' and quotation marks as " to preserve HTML clarity.
2 Down
Dot on a computer screen
Word Tips defines a pixel as a minute area of illumination on a screen. That matches the Mini's clue exactly. While dot could imply a period or bullet, the cross letters and length demand PIXEL.
Crossing Confirmation
- 1-Across SPOOF locks in the letters P I X E L sequentially, blocking inaccurate fills like pixel dot or pixelation.
- 6-Across PIXIE locks in the letters P I X E L sequentially, blocking inaccurate fills like pixel dot or pixelation.
- 7-Across EXILE locks in the letters P I X E L sequentially, blocking inaccurate fills like pixel dot or pixelation.
- 8-Across CEDED locks in the letters P I X E L sequentially, blocking inaccurate fills like pixel dot or pixelation.
Tech Context & Strategy
Definition Check
Pixel stands for picture element, the tiniest controllable component of a raster image. Crossword editors lean on it because it is short, recognizable, and intersects well with pop culture terms like PIXIE.
Speed Tip
When a clue references computer screens or displays in just five letters, PIXEL is almost always the answer. Memorize it alongside dpi and icon to snap fill tech themed Minis.
Beyond Word Tips
Our coverage notes the puzzle's deliberate echo of PIXIE across the grid, encouraging solvers to notice how constructors create satisfying symmetries.
Plurals vs. Singular
Unlike SPECS, this entry stays singular because the clue references a single dot. Let the clue's grammar steer your fill.