What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?

Latest answer — August 27, 2026

1 Across

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Clue explained

SHELLAC is a material associated with old records, which are the things that may be “spinning”; the clue is a cryptic allusion to a shellac record and its labels. “Sandwiched between labels” describes the record surface between its two labels.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A vintage shellac gramophone record on a turntable.

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Thursday, August 27, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?
  2. 5Refuse to acknowledge broadcast following U-turn of papers
  3. 8Unrehearsed dance exercises welcomed by Greek character on island
  4. 9Bent and bared firm bottom
  5. 11Some say no before going round wood
  6. 12Element of clue uncovered in a note about Duck’s second offering?
  7. 13One competitor moving east in corporate system
  8. 15Rabbit’s just perfect
  9. 17Duke in difficulty knocked over king’s port
  10. 19Drink welcome around noon — relax at regular intervals
  11. 22In protecting M’s predecessor, Bond’s not fair?
  12. 23Branch where one may settle one’s bill?
  13. 24Crush spirit, overcoming resistance with decisiveness at the front
  14. 25Piece of furniture’s too soft, rickety and almost antique
  15. 26Suitable space left in empty salvage yard
  16. 27Desperate country’s short — it’s embroiled in recession

Down

  1. 1Scary fish under tree in burn
  2. 2Go around rear of shop and look for milk
  3. 3Fool can accept losing you
  4. 4Two coppers ask criminal about drug — something small consumed at parties?
  5. 5Manage to obtain alcoholic drink during party
  6. 6Group periodically saying heartless command
  7. 7Side retains cup status following European match
  8. 10Member of church choir not calm, excited about start of Alleluia!
  9. 14Morning mist envelops thoroughfare in city
  10. 16Forget about sardonic nob on the radio
  11. 18Records kept are to include chapter four
  12. 20Eject four drunken university bores time after time
  13. 21Year and a month to climb outside of large tower
  14. 23Staple page together with a street map on the inside

The answer to “What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?” in the The Times Cryptic crossword is SHELLAC — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 27, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 1-Across. 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.

“What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?” answer

SHELLAC (7 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 SHELLAC.

What does SHELLAC mean?

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

(noun)

  • a resinous substance (obtained from the lac insect) melted into thin flakes, used for making varnish

When else has “What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?” appeared?

The Times Cryptic 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 27, 2026 (most recent) → SHELLAC. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?”?

The answer is SHELLAC, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 27, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?”?

7 letters: SHELLAC.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 27, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 1-Across.

Can “What’s sandwiched between labels, spinning?” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Cryptic 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 Times Cryptic answers?

The full grid for August 27, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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

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