Part of the eye that contains melanin

Latest answer — May 01, 2026

18 Down

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NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Friday, May 01, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Shoe with a cougar in its logo
  2. 5Singer/actress Lady ___
  3. 9Like some fish that's not grilled or pan-seared
  4. 11Tibetan spiritual leader
  5. 12Gear tooth
  6. 13Commotion
  7. 15100%
  8. 18Mideast country that celebrates the new year ("Nowruz") in March
  9. 19One who takes action
  10. 21Longtime N.F.L. coach Andy
  11. 22"A Man Called ___" (2022 Tom Hanks film)
  12. 23Actress Rae of "Insecure"
  13. 24Large ice cream containers
  14. 25Ingredient in many plant-based meats
  15. 26"Catch my drift?"

Down

  1. 1Pea coat?
  2. 2State sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson
  3. 3First name shared by two Spice Girls
  4. 4Massive Amazon boa
  5. 5Film portrayer of Wonder Woman
  6. 6Letters before a nickname
  7. 7Opal or sapphire
  8. 8Palindromic name found in "abracadabra"
  9. 10Book jacket blurb
  10. 13"You ___ busted!"
  11. 14"Driving Miss ____" (1989 Best Picture winner)
  12. 16Cross-legged yoga pose
  13. 17Leave alone
  14. 18Part of the eye that contains melanin
  15. 20Stood up

The answer to “Part of the eye that contains melanin” in the New York Times Midi crossword is IRIS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on May 1, 2026 at 18-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.

“Part of the eye that contains melanin” answer

IRIS (4 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's IRIS.

Why the answer is IRIS

IRIS is the 4-letter solution that fits "Part of the eye that contains melanin" in the NYT Midi crossword on May 1, 2026 (18-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does IRIS mean?

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

(noun)

  • a flat, coloured, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with an adjustable circular opening (pupil) in the centre
  • a plant with showy flowers, typically of purple or yellow, and sword-shaped leaves. Irises are native to both Eurasia and North America and widely cultivated as ornamentals

When else has “Part of the eye that contains melanin” appeared?

New York Times Midi 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.

May 1, 2026 (most recent) → IRIS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Part of the eye that contains melanin”?

The answer is IRIS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on May 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Part of the eye that contains melanin”?

4 letters: IRIS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on May 1, 2026, at 18-Down.

Can “Part of the eye that contains melanin” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi 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 today's NYT Midi answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Midi answers page.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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