PREVIOUS CONNECTIONS DEFINITIONS
Plain-English meanings for all 16 words from the September 15, 2026 NYT Connections puzzle. No hints, categories or answers.
A living organism that typically grows in soil, has leaves or needles, and uses sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.
A factory or industrial facility where goods are manufactured or processed.
To place seeds, bulbs, or young plants in the ground to grow.
To secretly put something somewhere, often for a surprise or trick.
The term can refer to living organisms, industrial sites, or actions, and is also used in various idiomatic expressions.
A person who trains and directs athletes or teams in sports or other activities.
A private tutor or instructor in a particular subject or skill.
A large, comfortable bus used for long-distance travel.
A type of horse-drawn carriage used for passenger transport.
The term can also be a brand name, a job title, or slang for giving guidance or advice.
A small device that makes a high-pitched sound when air is blown through it.
A sharp sound made by forcing breath through the lips or teeth.
To produce a high-pitched sound by blowing air through pursed lips.
To signal or attract attention using a whistle or by whistling.
Can refer to a device, the act of making a sound, or a signal; also used as a verb.
A sweet course typically eaten at the end of a meal.
A type of food that is rich and sugary, such as cakes, ice cream, or fruit dishes.
In some contexts, a treat or reward given after completing a task.
The term 'dessert' is distinct from 'desert' and is primarily used to refer to sweet foods served after meals.
A part of an object designed to be held or operated by the hand.
To manage, control, or deal with a situation or task.
A nickname or username used online or in gaming.
To touch or manipulate something physically.
The term can refer to physical objects, actions, or informal names.
A railroad car at the end of a freight train, used by the crew for shelter and observation.
A small, enclosed shelter or hut.
Slang for a person's buttocks.
The term can also be used as a nickname or in informal speech.
The twelfth and final month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, typically consisting of 31 days.
A period associated with winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
A time often linked to holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Used metaphorically to signify the end or conclusion of something.
December is primarily known as a month name but can also appear in cultural, historical, or metaphorical contexts.
A person or thing that sleeps or is designed for sleeping.
A railroad car with beds for passengers to sleep in.
A person or thing that achieves unexpected success or popularity.
A hidden or undercover agent or spy.
The term can be used in various contexts including transportation, entertainment, espionage, and everyday language.
Extending or moving from one place to another without changing course or stopping.
To manage or guide the operations or actions of something or someone.
To send or aim something toward a particular place or person.
Clear and straightforward in communication or behavior.
Can be used as an adjective, verb, or adverb.
A series of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by a locomotive.
To teach or develop skills or knowledge in someone.
To prepare a person or animal for a specific activity or job through practice.
A long line or sequence of people or things moving together.
Can also refer to a type of clothing extension or a name.
A removable or hinged cover for the top of a container, such as a box, jar, or pot.
An informal term for a hat or cap.
An acronym for 'Local Identifier' used in computing or networking.
Slang for a quantity of marijuana, typically about an ounce.
The term can be used as a common noun, slang, or an acronym depending on context.
A resource with economic value that an individual, corporation, or country owns or controls with the expectation that it will provide future benefit.
A useful or valuable quality, skill, or person.
In computing, a file or data used by a program or game, such as images or sounds.
In finance, any item of value owned, including cash, investments, and property.
The term can be used in finance, computing, and general language contexts.
A tube or lip on a container designed to pour out liquid in a controlled stream.
To emit or discharge liquid or gas forcibly in a stream.
To speak or express words rapidly or at length, often in a way that is considered excessive or annoying.
A natural or artificial opening through which water or other fluid flows out, such as a geyser or fountain.
The term can be used as a noun or a verb and may appear in various contexts including everyday objects, natural phenomena, and informal speech.
A small mammal with velvety fur, known for digging tunnels underground.
A unit of measurement in chemistry representing 6.022 x 10²³ particles.
A dark spot or growth on the skin.
A spy who infiltrates an organization to gather secret information.
The term can refer to animals, scientific units, skin features, or espionage roles depending on context.
A section at the end of a book, play, or other work that provides closure or additional information about the story's outcome.
A concluding speech in a play, often addressing the audience directly.
A final event or statement that serves as a conclusion to a series of events.
The term is commonly used in literature and drama but can also refer to any concluding part of a narrative or event.
A person or thing that leads or directs others, providing advice or information.
A book or document offering information or instructions.
To show the way by leading or directing.
A device used to direct or control the movement of something.
The term can refer to people, documents, devices, or actions related to leading or providing information.