__ carotene
Latest answer — September 27, 2026
84 Down
Scroll down for rest of crossword answers
Clue explained
BETA completes the familiar compound “beta carotene,” the orange pigment and nutrient found in foods such as carrots.
- Clue type:
- Fill-in-the-blank
LA Times Crossword
This clue's Sunday, September 27, 2026 appearance
Tap a square to reveal a letter.
Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.
Across
Down
The answer to “__ carotene” in the LA Times crossword is BETA — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on September 27, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 84-Down, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“__ carotene” answer
BETA (4 letters)
Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is BETA.
What does BETA mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of BETA is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β, β), transliterated as ‘b’
When else has “__ carotene” appeared?
LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
- September 27, 2026 (most recent) → BETA
- July 23, 2026 → BETA
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “__ carotene”?
The answer is BETA, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on September 27, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “__ carotene”?
4 letters: BETA.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the LA Times crossword on September 27, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 84-Down. Earlier appearances: July 23, 2026 → BETA.
Can “__ carotene” have a different answer?
Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?
The full grid for September 27, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
Crossword Clues
Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.
- Like the exteriors of armadillos
- Fall behind in payments
- Bicycle built for two
- Prefix with physics or thermal
- Alternative to French fries
- Skill needed to solve sudoku
- Suffix with fail or forfeit
- "Time flies like an [50-Down]; fruit flies like a ___"
- With 41-Across, ball hit out of the park by the very first batter for either side ... or a hint to the starts of 18-, 27-, 46- and 60-Across
- Coconut Girl Scout cookies
- "___ I compare thee to a summer's day?": Shak.
- Performs a stylish ballroom dance
- Tropical tree whose product is sometimes used as a meat substitute
- San Francisco ballplayer
- Helper for computer problems, informally
- Kylo ___ of "Star Wars"
- Granny Smith, for one
- The "A" of ETA: Abbr.
- Words of support from an abacus?
- Brainstorming outputs
- Six years for a U.S. Senator, e.g.
- Words of support from a rideshare driver?
- Used a pair of sculls, say
- Out that gets a runner home, for short
- Like some evening gowns
- Words of support from a crossbody bag?
- Words of support from a broken elevator?
- Tasseled hat that shares a name with a Moroccan city
- Swim-bike-run race, informally
- Pros who are busy in Apr.
- Sense of finality that may be needed after a breakup
- Location that may have "No running" and "No diving" signs
- Granny Smith, for one
- The "A" of ETA: Abbr.
- Words of support from an abacus?
- Brainstorming outputs
- Six years for a U.S. Senator, e.g.
- Words of support from a rideshare driver?
- Used a pair of sculls, say
- Out that gets a runner home, for short
- Like some evening gowns
- Words of support from a crossbody bag?
- Words of support from a broken elevator?
- Tasseled hat that shares a name with a Moroccan city
- Swim-bike-run race, informally
- Pros who are busy in Apr.
- Sense of finality that may be needed after a breakup
- Location that may have "No running" and "No diving" signs