LA Times Crossword Clue · Across
Tulip : bulb :: oak : __
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Letters
5
Direction
Across
Starts with
A
Ends with
N
Vowels
2
Puzzle date
June 4, 2026
About this clue
The clue “Tulip : bulb :: oak : __” appeared in the LA Times Crossword on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in the across direction. The answer is a 5-letter word that starts with A and ends with N.
Crossword editor Patti Varol and her constructor team often use mid-length answers like this one to anchor the grid. The vowel pattern is balanced, suggesting a common English word.
How to solve this clue
If you're stuck on this one, here are a few angles that often help with LA Times clues like this:
- Watch for misdirection. If the clue ends in a question mark or feels weirdly phrased, the answer is probably a pun, a homophone, or a non-literal interpretation.
- Match the part of speech. A noun clue takes a noun answer; a verb clue takes a verb in the same tense.
- Crosscheck with the perpendicular entries. If the Across entry is fighting you, fill in the Down words that cross it.
- Consider context. Theme entries often relate to the puzzle's overall gimmick.