NY Times Crossword Answers May 17, 2025 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

NY Times Crossword Complete Solution: May 17, 2025

Published on Saturday, May 17, 2025 • Updated daily

Our expert breakdown helps you solve the May 17 NYT crossword while expanding your vocabulary. Learn answer strategies and discover word connections.

NY Times Crossword Answers May 17, 2025

Across Clues and Answers (36)

Clue #1: 1. Much mail to Santa

5-letter answer Answer: LISTS

Word Help: Synonyms: inclination, leaning, name

Clue #2: 6. Rubbish destinations

4-letter answer Answer: BINS

Word Help: Synonyms: BIN, bank_identification_number, bin

Clue #3: 10. Sultanate that controls the exclave of Madha

4-letter answer Answer: OMAN

Word Help: Synonyms: Oman, Sultanate_of_Oman, Muscat_and_Oman

Clue #4: 14. Mescal source

5-letter answer Answer: AGAVE

Word Help: Synonyms: agave, American_aloe, century_plant

Clue #5: 15. Tip line?

9-letter answer Answer: ANYADVICE

Clue #6: 17. Sitcom set in a corner store run by a Korean Canadian family (2016-21)

15-letter answer Answer: KIMSCONVENIENCE

Clue #7: 19. Halloween vis-à-vis All Saints' Day

3-letter answer Answer: EVE

Word Help: Synonyms: Eve, even, eve

Clue #8: 20. Hair color, e.g.

5-letter answer Answer: TRAIT

Word Help: Synonyms: trait

Clue #9: 21. Cards' home

3-letter answer Answer: ARI

Clue #10: 22. The sun, e.g., in about five billion years

8-letter answer Answer: REDGIANT

Clue #11: 24. Humiliated (or honored), as on Nickelodeon

6-letter answer Answer: SLIMED

Word Help: Synonyms: reduce, slime, lose_weight
Antonyms: gain

Clue #12: 27. Like one preferring platonic relationships, informally

3-letter answer Answer: ARO

Clue #13: 28. British singer ___ Parks

4-letter answer Answer: ARLO

Clue #14: 30. Museum with works by Hockney, Turner and Millais

4-letter answer Answer: TATE

Word Help: Synonyms: Tate, Allen_Tate, John_Orley_Allen_Tate

Clue #15: 31. Going down, in a way

11-letter answer Answer: FLYINGSOUTH

Clue #16: 35. Threw one's hat in the ring

3-letter answer Answer: RAN

Word Help: Synonyms: go, endure, scarper
Antonyms: malfunction, idle

Clue #17: 36. Becomes uncomfortable, as underwear

7-letter answer Answer: RIDESUP

Clue #18: 37. Frightful

7-letter answer Answer: GHASTLY

Word Help: Synonyms: charnel, sepulchral, macabre

Clue #19: 39. Type that's compatible with everyone, in brief

4-letter answer Answer: ONEG

Clue #20: 40. First president of the S.C.L.C.

3-letter answer Answer: MLK

Clue #21: 42. Neutral color

3-letter answer Answer: ASH

Word Help: Synonyms: ash_tree, ash

Clue #22: 43. Work well together

3-letter answer Answer: GEL

Word Help: Synonyms: gel, mousse, colloidal_gel

Clue #23: 44. "C'mon, dish it!"

11-letter answer Answer: SPILLTHETEA

Clue #24: 49. Chicken nugget shape

4-letter answer Answer: DINO

Clue #25: 51. Stands to practice hitting

4-letter answer Answer: TEES

Word Help: Synonyms: tee, football_tee, golf_tee

Clue #26: 52. Causes of some burns

4-letter answer Answer: RUGS

Word Help: Synonyms: carpeting, carpet, rug

Clue #27: 53. N.F.L. team whose name is a literary reference

6-letter answer Answer: RAVENS

Word Help: Synonyms: pig, Corvus_corax, guttle

Clue #28: 55. Fills up

8-letter answer Answer: EATSALOT

Clue #29: 57. Scale range

8-letter answer Answer: ONETOTEN

Clue #30: 59. Blather

6-letter answer Answer: HOTAIR

Clue #31: 60. "Bad Moon Rising" band, familiarly

3-letter answer Answer: CCR

Clue #32: 61. Further

4-letter answer Answer: MORE

Word Help: Synonyms: more, Thomas_More, More
Antonyms: less, fewer

Clue #33: 62. M.L.B. star Pete who holds the single-season record for homers by a rookie (53)

6-letter answer Answer: ALONSO

Word Help: Synonyms: Alonso, Alicia_Alonso

Clue #34: 63. Map inset

3-letter answer Answer: KEY

Word Help: Synonyms: describe, Francis_Scott_Key, distinguish
Antonyms: atonality

Clue #35: 64. End of a trail, perhaps

4-letter answer Answer: APEX

Word Help: Synonyms: vertex, acme, peak
Antonyms: antapex

Clue #36: 65. They're accepted at church

6-letter answer Answer: TENETS

Word Help: Synonyms: tenet, dogma

Across Clues and Answers (36)

Clue #1: 1. Athlete who shares his home venue with the Sparks

5-letter answer Answer: LAKER

Clue #2: 2. "Enough!"

5-letter answer Answer: IGIVE

Clue #3: 3. Prime choice

15-letter answer Answer: SAMEDAYDELIVERY

Clue #4: 4. They're found in dens

3-letter answer Answer: TVS

Word Help: Synonyms: goggle_box, tv, video

Clue #5: 5. Sports and Arts, e.g.

8-letter answer Answer: SECTIONS

Word Help: Synonyms: incision, subdivision, division

Clue #6: 6. Something to take in from a boat

11-letter answer Answer: BANANASPLIT

Clue #7: 7. Outside the typical biological setting

7-letter answer Answer: INVITRO

Clue #8: 8. Dostoyevsky's denial

4-letter answer Answer: NYET

Clue #9: 9. Spanish word on a U.S. map

3-letter answer Answer: SAN

Clue #10: 10. Having lost interest

6-letter answer Answer: OVERIT

Clue #11: 11. Where you might refuel after refueling

8-letter answer Answer: MINIMART

Clue #12: 12. Miami is in it, for short

3-letter answer Answer: ACC

Word Help: Synonyms: ACC, Air_Combat_Command

Clue #13: 13. French word that sounds like a vote

3-letter answer Answer: NEE

Word Help: Synonyms: nee

Clue #14: 16. Turn (up)

4-letter answer Answer: DIAL

Word Help: Synonyms: telephone_dial, dial

Clue #15: 18. Rita ___, "R.I.P." singer

3-letter answer Answer: ORA

Word Help: Synonyms: atomic_number_76, Os, oculus_sinister

Clue #16: 23. Composer Edvard

5-letter answer Answer: GRIEG

Word Help: Synonyms: Grieg, Edvard_Grieg, Edvard_Hagerup_Grieg

Clue #17: 24. "Anyway, gonna move on now"

11-letter answer Answer: SOTHATSTHAT

Clue #18: 25. Name-dropping abbreviation

4-letter answer Answer: ETAL

Clue #19: 26. Not own

4-letter answer Answer: DENY

Word Help: Synonyms: abnegate, traverse, deny
Antonyms: admit, allow

Clue #20: 29. Schlep

3-letter answer Answer: LUG

Word Help: Synonyms: lobworm, block, Lug
Antonyms: unstuff

Clue #21: 31. End part of a violin bow

4-letter answer Answer: FROG

Word Help: Synonyms: anuran, frog, toad_frog

Clue #22: 32. What might lead to a row at a party?

9-letter answer Answer: LINEDANCE

Clue #23: 33. Forrest of film

4-letter answer Answer: GUMP

Clue #24: 34. Miscellany

4-letter answer Answer: HASH

Word Help: Synonyms: haschisch, hash, hashish

Clue #25: 38. Chain whose name came from a Boston hotel whose sign was too expensive to remove

8-letter answer Answer: SHERATON

Word Help: Synonyms: Sheraton

Clue #26: 41. Part of a cold pack?

7-letter answer Answer: KLEENEX

Word Help: Synonyms: Kleenex

Clue #27: 44. Wine valley in the Bay Area

6-letter answer Answer: SONOMA

Clue #28: 45. Green expanse

3-letter answer Answer: LEA

Word Help: Synonyms: ley, grazing_land, lea

Clue #29: 46. It was founded as the Medical College of Louisiana

6-letter answer Answer: TULANE

Clue #30: 47. One with an "I" problem?

6-letter answer Answer: EGOIST

Word Help: Synonyms: swellhead, egocentric, egoist

Clue #31: 48. Team whose logo contains an "H" on top of a star

6-letter answer Answer: ASTROS

Clue #32: 50. It's not gross

3-letter answer Answer: NET

Word Help: Synonyms: earnings, final, meshing
Antonyms: gross

Clue #33: 53. Sway

4-letter answer Answer: ROCK

Word Help: Synonyms: rock-and-roll, rock_music, careen

Clue #34: 54. "Enough!"

4-letter answer Answer: STOP

Word Help: Synonyms: finish, discontinue, occlusion
Antonyms: continuant_consonant, continue

Clue #35: 56. Base of a pump

4-letter answer Answer: SOLE

Word Help: Synonyms: exclusive, resole, lone

Clue #36: 58. "Ended, ___ it begun" (Emily Dickinson poem)

3-letter answer Answer: ERE

Expert Solving Strategies

• Look for fill-in-the-blank clues first (they're often easiest)
• Watch for question marks indicating wordplay
• Check vowel patterns in partially solved words

Related Search Terms

NYT Crossword Help, Daily Puzzle Solutions, Crossword Answer Finder, May Crossword Answers

NYT Tuesday, October 01, 2013 Crossword Clues Hints | Answers - Solution Blog

The Crossword hints blog is an one of the most popular crossword clue puzzles with answers solver. Here are the clues and answers for today nyt puzzle.

Break down the NYT Crosswords: October 01, 2013

Let's go into the puzzle, starting with the across clues and answers, followed by the down clues and answers.

Across Clues and Answers:

• 1. Tennessee team, for short -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: VOLS



• 5. Acknowledge as true -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: COPTO



• 10. Pole or Czech -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: SLAV

  Possible Answer : Slav



• 14. Admit openly -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: AVOW

  Possible Answer : swan, avouch, assert, swear, avow, verify, affirm, aver

  Possible Opposite Answer : disavow



• 15. Often-maligned relative -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: INLAW



• 16. ___ mind -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: HIVE

  Possible Answer : hive, beehive



• 17. Blue-skinned race in "Avatar" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: NAVI



• 18. With 50-Across, it's represented by 15 squares in an appropriate arrangement in this puzzle -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: GEESE

  Possible Answer : zany, jackass, goofball, bozo, goof, twat, cuckoo, fathead, goose



• 19. Some Monopoly purchases: Abbr. -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: AVES

  Possible Answer : Aves, class_Aves



• 20. French pupil -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: ELEVE



• 22. Grandpa on "The Simpsons" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: ABE



• 23. Boot -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: EVICT

  Possible Answer : force_out, evict



• 24. Live it up -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: REVEL

  Possible Answer : make_merry, enjoy, make_happy, revel, whoop_it_up, revelry, make_whoopie, delight, wassail, jollify, racket



• 26. N.F.L. player with a black helmet -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: RAVEN

  Possible Answer : raven, predate, prey, guttle, pig, Corvus_corax, devour



• 28. Hebrew month when Hanukkah starts -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (6 letters)

  Discover the answer: KISLEV

  Possible Answer : Kislev, Chislev



• 30. Richard Branson's airline company -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (6 letters)

  Discover the answer: VIRGIN

  Possible Answer : pure, virgin, virtuous, virginal, vestal, Virgin, Virgo_the_Virgin, Virgo



• 33. Hundred Acre Wood resident -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: OWL

  Possible Answer : bird_of_Minerva, bird_of_night, owl, hooter



• 34. Place to hear fire and brimstone -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: REVIVAL

  Possible Answer : revival_meeting, revitalization, revitalisation, revival, resurgence, revivification



• 38. Personal question? -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: WHO

  Possible Answer : WHO, World_Health_Organization



• 39. Washing machine contents -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: LOAD

  Possible Answer : payload, debase, lading, warhead, incumbrance, load_up, loading, lade, cargo, shipment, onus, burden, consignment, charge, stretch, laden, adulterate, lode, encumbrance, freight, load, dilute



• 41. David of "The Pink Panther" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: NIVEN



• 42. Rear half of a griffin -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: LION

  Possible Answer : Panthera_leo, Leo_the_Lion, lion, Lion, Leo, social_lion, king_of_beasts



• 43. Writer Katherine ___ Porter -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: ANNE

  Possible Answer : Anne



• 44. Barely adequate -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: SCANT

  Possible Answer : scant, light, stint, short, skimp



• 45. Iams competitor -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  Discover the answer: ALPO



• 46. 1943 penny material -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: STEEL

  Possible Answer : nerve, sword, brand, steel, blade



• 48. Suffix with meth- or prop- -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: ANE

  Possible Answer : one, i, 1, ane



• 49. What you might buy a flight with -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  Discover the answer: MILES

  Possible Answer : statute_mile, land_mile, Roman_mile, naut_mi, Admiralty_mile, Swedish_mile, international_nautical_mile, international_mile, mi, mile, knot, sea_mile, air_mile, stat_mi, geographical_mile, mil, nautical_mile



• 50. See 18-Across -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (9 letters)

  Discover the answer: MIGRATION

  Possible Answer : migration



• 53. Place with complimentary bathrobes -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: SPA

  Possible Answer : watering_hole, watering_place, health_spa, health_club, resort_hotel, spa



• 56. Pronoun for Miss Piggy -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: MOI



• 57. Rodeway ___ -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: INN

  Possible Answer : inn, hostel, lodge, hostelry, auberge



• 58. Past the expiration date -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  Discover the answer: BAD

  Possible Answer : bad, defective, high-risk, regretful, spoiled, forged, badness, risky, big, sorry, spoilt, unsound, speculative, tough, uncollectible, badly, unfit

  Possible Opposite Answer : goodness, unregretful, good



• 61. Ship sinker -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: TORPEDO

  Possible Answer : triggerman, electric_ray, gun, numbfish, submarine_sandwich, wedge, gun_for_hire, hitman, crampfish, hero, torpedo, hired_gun, submarine, gunman, hit_man, hero_sandwich, shooter, bomber, sub, Italian_sandwich, hoagy, Cuban_sandwich, gunslinger, hoagie, grinder, zep, poor_boy



• 63. Pep up -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: ANIMATE

  Possible Answer : sentient, quicken, animize, exalt, liven_up, reanimate, vivify, animate, liven, revive, revivify, invigorate, enliven, renovate, inspire, repair, animise, recreate

  Possible Opposite Answer : deaden, inanimate, insentient



• 65. "Not my call" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: UPTOYOU



• 66. Words of encouragement -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: NICEJOB



• 67. Calls it quits -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: DESISTS

  Possible Answer : desist, refrain, abstain

  Possible Opposite Answer : consume



• 68. Weatherproofing stuff -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (7 letters)

  Discover the answer: SEALANT

  Possible Answer : sealer, sealant

Down Clues and Answers:

• 1. Revolver with the letters N-E-W-S -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  VANE

  Possible Answer: weather_vane, weathervane, web, vane, wind_vane, blade

• 2. Speed skater's path -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  OVAL

  Possible Answer: elliptical, oval, ovoid, elliptic, ellipse, ovate, oviform, egg-shaped, prolate, oval-shaped

• 3. Make-out session spot -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (10 letters)

  LOVERSLANE

• 4. Spin, as an office chair -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (6 letters)

  SWIVEL

  Possible Answer: pivot, swivel

• 5. It might be bummed -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  CIG

• 6. Basketball player who starred in "Kazaam" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  ONEAL

• 7. Commoner -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  PLEB

  Possible Answer: pleb, plebeian

• 8. Police stun gun -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  TASER

• 9. "I ___ you one" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  OWE

  Possible Answer: owe

• 10. Barber, at times -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (6 letters)

  SHAVER

  Possible Answer: electric_razor, kid, small_fry, tyke, electric_shaver, tiddler, nestling, nipper, fry, child, youngster, minor, shaver, tike

• 11. Medical directive -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (10 letters)

  LIVINGWILL

• 12. With, on le menu -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  AVEC

• 13. Item under a jacket, maybe -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  VEST

  Possible Answer: vest, undershirt, invest, enthrone, singlet, robe, waistcoat

  Possible Opposite Answer : divest

• 21. At any time -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  EVER

  Possible Answer: ever_so, ever, of_all_time, always, e'er

  Possible Opposite Answer : never

• 23. Nefarious -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  EVIL

  Possible Answer: iniquity, malign, wickedness, malevolent, immorality, malefic, vicious, evil, evilness

  Possible Opposite Answer : goodness, good

• 25. Roulette bet -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  EVENS

  Possible Answer: even, eventide, level, even_out, flush, evening, eve

• 27. ___-garde -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  AVANT

• 28. Caffeine-laden nuts -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  KOLAS

  Possible Answer: kola_nut_tree, kola_nut, Cola_acuminata, Daba, Kola, goora_nut, kola, Musgoi

• 29. "Not gonna happen" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  IWONT

• 31. Comment made while crossing one's fingers -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  IHOPE

• 32. Pitchers' hitless games, in baseball slang -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  NONOS

• 35. Experienced through another -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (9 letters)

  VICARIOUS

  Possible Answer: vicarious

• 36. The first Mrs. Trump -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  IVANA

• 37. Shakespeare's Antonio and Bassanio, e.g. -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (9 letters)

  VENETIANS

  Possible Answer: Venetian

• 40. Judge -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  DEEM

  Possible Answer: take_for, hold, deem, view_as

• 42. Reclined -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  LAIN

  Possible Answer: consist, dwell, rest, lie, lie_in, lie_down

  Possible Opposite Answer : stand, arise

• 47. British sailors -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (6 letters)

  LIMEYS

  Possible Answer: limey, John_Bull

• 49. One of the friends on "Friends" -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (6 letters)

  MONICA

• 51. No-show in a Beckett play -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  GODOT

• 52. Certain belly button -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (5 letters)

  INNIE

• 53. Tuxedo shirt button -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  STUD

  Possible Answer: dot, stud, studhorse, rivet, he-man, scantling, stud_poker, constellate, macho-man

• 54. St. Peter was the first -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  POPE

  Possible Answer: pope, pontiff, Catholic_Pope, Vicar_of_Christ, Alexander_Pope, Holy_Father, Bishop_of_Rome, Pope, Roman_Catholic_Pope

• 55. B.A. part -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  ARTS

  Possible Answer: fine_art, artistry, artwork, arts, prowess, humanistic_discipline, graphics, artistic_creation, artistic_production, humanities, liberal_arts, art, nontextual_matter

• 58. Cabo's peninsula -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  BAJA

• 59. Lots -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  ATON

  Possible Answer: Aten, Aton

• 60. Thing often of interest? -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (4 letters)

  DEBT

  Possible Answer: debt

• 62. Hawaiian dish -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  POI

  Possible Answer: poi

• 64. Blanc or Brooks -
  

  Looking for the answer? Here is a hint. It is a word with (3 letters)

  MEL