Winter puddle topper

Latest answer — August 16, 2026

88 Down

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Clue explained

Ice can cover or top a winter puddle when its surface freezes. “Topper” describes the layer sitting on the puddle, with the question-mark wording adding a light literal twist.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A thin layer of ice covering a puddle in winter

LA Times Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 16, 2026 appearance

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  1. 84Kid

The answer to “Winter puddle topper” in the LA Times crossword is ICE — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 16, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 88-Down. 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.

“Winter puddle topper” answer

ICE (3 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 ICE.

What does ICE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of ICE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • internal combustion engine

When else has “Winter puddle topper” 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.

August 16, 2026 (most recent) → ICE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Winter puddle topper”?

The answer is ICE, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 16, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Winter puddle topper”?

3 letters: ICE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 16, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 88-Down.

Can “Winter puddle topper” 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 August 16, 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.

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