NYT Spelling Bee Answers for July 12, 2020

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for July 12, 2020

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for July 12, 2020
Center LetterT
Outer Lettersa, l, o, r, v, y
# of Pangrams1 (Perfect: none)
Total Words50 words
Total Points208 points
Genius Level146 points
Bingo?No

Table of Contents

As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!

  1. Spelling Bee Grid
  2. Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
  3. Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
  4. Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
  5. Today's Complete Solution
  6. Answer Definitions

If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for July 12, 2020

Spelling Bee Grid

The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.

4</th><th>5</th><th>6</th><th>7</th><th>8Σ
A252--9
L11-114
O1-11-3
R2223110
T12631-22
V1-1--2
Y------
Σ191496250

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.

A
AL×3
AO×2
AR×1
AT×2
AV×1
L
LA×1
LO×3
O
OA×1
OR×2
R
RA×3
RO×7
T
TA×10
TO×7
TR×4
TY×1
V
VO×2
Y

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.

A
ALL×1
ALT×2
AOR×2
ART×1
ATO×1
ATT×1
AVA×1
L
LAV×1
LOO×1
LOT×1
LOY×1
O
OAT×1
ORA×2
R
RAT×3
ROO×1
ROT×5
ROY×1
T
TAL×2
TAR×6
TAT×2
TOL×1
TOO×2
TOR×2
TOT×2
TRA×1
TRO×3
TYR×1
V
VOL×1
VOT×1
Y

Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)

The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.

Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.

Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol ().

Word2L RefDefinition (click to reveal)
al...AL5To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot.
al...AL5A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
al..AL4A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
ao...AO5The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
ao....AO6Of or relating to the aorta.
ar..AR4Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
at...AT5a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls
at...AT5An essential oil extracted from flowers.
av....AV6An incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
la...... LA8A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly: A laver: a washbasin. A bathtub. A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels. A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist. A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins. A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.
lo..LO4A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
lo...LO5a game of chance similar to bingo
lo.....LO7The state of being loyal; fidelity.
oa..OA4Containing oats.
or....OR6Someone who orates or delivers an oration.
or.....OR7A private chapel or prayer room.
ra.....RA7A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
ra....RA6That rattles.
ra...RA5Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
ro..RO4The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.
ro....RO6Capable of rotation.
ro.....RO7One who or that which rotates.
ro......RO8of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational
ro..RO4Clipping of rotogravure.
ro...RO5A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
ro.....RO7The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
ta..TA4Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
ta...TA5Target sighted.
ta..TA4Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.
ta...TA5A card game played in various different variations.
ta...TA5To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
ta..TA4Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
ta....TA6A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
ta....TA6In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
ta....TA6An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
ta...TA5worn and shabby; in poor condition.
to..TO4Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
to..TO4A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
to..TO4The noise of a horn or whistle.
to..TO4A traditional Japanese lantern.
to..TO4An injury or wrong.
to...TO5An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.
to.....TO7To the fullest extent or degree.
tr..TR4A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
tr...TR5A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
tr..TR4An ugly old woman, a hag.
tr..TR4Of, or relating to, troy weight.
ty..TY4A beginner; a novice.
vo..VO4In the International System of Units, the derived unit of electrical potential and electromotive force (voltage); the potential difference across a conductor when a current of one ampere uses one watt of power. Symbol: V
vo....VO6Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.

Today's Complete Solution

The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.

Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.

  • allot  (AL5)
  • altar  (AL5)
  • alto  (AL4)
  • aorta  (AO5)
  • aortal  (AO6)
  • arty  (AR4)
  • atoll  (AT5)
  • attar  (AT5)
  • avatar  (AV6)
  • lavatory  (LA8)
  • loot  (LO4)
  • lotto  (LO5)
  • loyalty  (LO7)
  • oaty  (OA4)
  • orator  (OR6)
  • oratory  (OR7)
  • ratatat  (RA7)
  • rattly  (RA6)
  • ratty  (RA5)
  • root  (RO4)
  • rotary  (RO6)
  • rotator  (RO7)
  • rotatory  (RO8)
  • roto  (RO4)
  • rotor  (RO5)
  • royalty  (RO7)
  • tall  (TA4)
  • tally  (TA5)
  • taro  (TA4)
  • tarot  (TA5)
  • tarry  (TA5)
  • tart  (TA4)
  • tartar  (TA6)
  • tartly  (TA6)
  • tattoo  (TA6)
  • tatty  (TA5)
  • toll  (TO4)
  • tool  (TO4)
  • toot  (TO4)
  • toro  (TO4)
  • tort  (TO4)
  • total  (TO5)
  • totally  (TO7)
  • tray  (TR4)
  • troll  (TR5)
  • trot  (TR4)
  • troy  (TR4)
  • tyro  (TY4)
  • volt  (VO4)
  • votary  (VO6)

Answer Definitions

  • allot (verb): To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot.
  • altar (noun): A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
  • alto (noun): A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
  • aorta (noun): The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
  • aortal (adjective): Of or relating to the aorta.
  • arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
  • atoll (noun): a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls
  • attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
  • avatar (noun): An incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
  • lavatory (noun): A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly: A laver: a washbasin. A bathtub. A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels. A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist. A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins. A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.
  • loot (noun): A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
  • lotto (noun): a game of chance similar to bingo
  • loyalty (noun): The state of being loyal; fidelity.
  • oaty (adjective): Containing oats.
  • orator (noun): Someone who orates or delivers an oration.
  • oratory (noun): A private chapel or prayer room.
  • ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
  • rattly (adjective): That rattles.
  • ratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
  • root (noun): The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.
  • rotary (adjective): Capable of rotation.
  • rotator (noun): One who or that which rotates.
  • rotatory (adjective): of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational
  • roto (noun): Clipping of rotogravure.
  • rotor (noun): A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
  • royalty (noun): The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
  • tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
  • tally (interjection): Target sighted.
  • taro (noun): Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.
  • tarot (noun): A card game played in various different variations.
  • tarry (verb): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
  • tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
  • tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
  • tartly (adverb): In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
  • tattoo (noun): An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
  • tatty (noun): worn and shabby; in poor condition.
  • toll (noun): Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
  • tool (noun): A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
  • toot (noun): The noise of a horn or whistle.
  • toro (noun): A traditional Japanese lantern.
  • tort (noun): An injury or wrong.
  • total (noun): An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.
  • totally (adverb): To the fullest extent or degree.
  • tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
  • troll (noun): A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
  • trot (noun): An ugly old woman, a hag.
  • troy (adjective): Of, or relating to, troy weight.
  • tyro (noun): A beginner; a novice.
  • volt (noun): In the International System of Units, the derived unit of electrical potential and electromotive force (voltage); the potential difference across a conductor when a current of one ampere uses one watt of power. Symbol: V
  • votary (adjective): Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.