‘One end of a battery’ NYT Mini Crossword clue hints and answer

Truthfully, I don’t know anything about batteries or how they’re made. All I’ve ever needed to know is they make things work. However, the NYT Crossword puzzle clue “One end of a battery” proves there’s more to batteries than just popping them out of the box.

This clue is from the NYT’s Aug. 7 mini crossword puzzle. While it may be easy to solve for those who know a thing or two about batteries, it’s almost impossible for those of us who don’t—which is why I’ve included four hints to help you.

‘One end of a battery’ NYT Mini Crossword hints and answer (Aug. 7)

• Hint 1: It’s a single word.
• Hint 2: It’s the opposite of cathode.
• Hint 3: It rhymed with abode.
• Hint 4: It starts with an “A.”

The answer to this clue is below. So, if you’re still trying to solve it using the hints, please don’t read on just yet.

The answer to the clue, “One end of a battery,” is “ANODE.” Although the word anode has been around since 1834, its definition is a little confusing. The simplest breakdown I could find is from the University of Washington, where they state an anode is a negative side that releases electrons into an external circuit.

If you’re now feeling charged, why not finish the rest of the Aug. 7 puzzle?

Aug. 7 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle: All clues and answers

Across

• 1A The tip of a sippy cup, essentially — STRAW
• 6A It’s considered to be both a percussion and stringed instrument — PIANO
• 7A Knight’s attire — ARMOR
• 8A More than just wants — NEEDS
• 9A Circus safety feature — NET

Down

• 1D Length of a bridge — SPAN
• 2D “Flat” or “spare” item — TIRE
• 3D Noodles eaten with chashu pork — RAMEN
• 4D One end of a battery — ANODE
• 5D Superlative seen on a Razzle Award — WORST

Difficulty rating of the clue ‘One end of a battery’ 

When I read this clue, I knew I was in trouble. It’s quite difficult to solve unless you know how batteries work or have already solved the crossword puzzle. As I have no knowledge of batteries I sadly wasn’t able to solve this clue until I finished the rest of the crossword. It was tough, and I’d give it a difficulty rating of four out of five.

NYT Mini Crossword puzzle: Best crossword and word game alternatives

Mini crosswords are short and sweet, and if you want to play other mini crosswords, you can find daily ones at the LA Times and the Washington Post. But if you enjoy word searches, try the Strands, or if you enjoy making words from random letters, try Spelling Bee.