Cryptic Crossword Dictionary : C

CABINET MAKER

May be a cryptic definition indicating the letters PM or EDEN, BROWN,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.

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