Word after "tectonic" or "license"

Latest answer — September 19, 2026

15 Across

It can describe Earth's shifting crust or a legal authorization to drive. 🚗

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 19, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Signature items?
  2. 5"Quaking" tree
  3. 10Had a debt
  4. 14State where "dirty soda" was popularized
  5. 15Word after "tectonic" or "license"
  6. 16Learn by word of mouth
  7. 17Gender-neutral pronoun
  8. 18Way overcooks
  9. 19Museum pieces, in Spanish
  10. 20Mint container
  11. 21One might be inflated at a sleepover
  12. 23Seafood morsel
  13. 25Bassoon parts
  14. 26Ziploc bag feature
  15. 27Like the retort "I was born in the morning, but not this morning"
  16. 31"La ___ Boheme" ("Rent" song)
  17. 32"That's such a ___-out!"
  18. 34Convent figure
  19. 35Goof up
  20. 36Situation where one person goes for a handshake and the other a hug, e.g.
  21. 41Outdoor makeout sesh, say
  22. 42MPH part
  23. 43Drag accessory
  24. 44Hospital tubes (Abbr.)
  25. 45What loafers don't have
  26. 47Puts to work
  27. 50"Make some ___!"
  28. 52On the line
  29. 55Film with a plane chase scene, maybe
  30. 59Last section of an Ironman triathlon
  31. 60Pungent taste
  32. 61Had an opinion
  33. 62Recedes
  34. 63Lots
  35. 64That's up for debate!
  36. 65Hawaiian feast
  37. 66Collections of reps
  38. 67Hits the brakes
  39. 68Not moving

Down

  1. 1Mini-golf strokes
  2. 2Study of morals
  3. 32010s viral dance
  4. 4Like someone hesitant to make the first move, perhaps
  5. 5H.S. science class
  6. 6Loudly enjoys soup
  7. 7Chicken ___ (Italian dish)
  8. 8Mount ___ (Italian peak)
  9. 9Cardinal's home
  10. 10"Home Alone" airport
  11. 11"That's for what you did earlier"
  12. 12Experiences humiliation
  13. 13Place to store socks
  14. 21Give the go-ahead for
  15. 22Attempt
  16. 24Absence
  17. 282015 NBA Finals MVP Iguodala
  18. 29Total
  19. 30Person who acts superior to others
  20. 33Smurf with a beard
  21. 36Supporter
  22. 37"Am I remembering that incorrectly?"
  23. 38Book suggestion, for short
  24. 39Animal associated with cheese
  25. 40It's right on the map!
  26. 41Party animals, perhaps?
  27. 45First American pope
  28. 46Stockpile
  29. 48AirPod, e.g.
  30. 49Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik
  31. 51Things held up at games
  32. 53Ocean's motions
  33. 54Come after
  34. 56CBS crime drama
  35. 57Pirate ship part
  36. 58"Give or take"
  37. 62Name hidden in "white lie"

The answer to “Word after "tectonic" or "license"” in the USA Today crossword is PLATE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 19, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 15-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.

“Word after "tectonic" or "license"” answer

PLATE (5 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 PLATE.

Why the answer is PLATE

It can describe Earth's shifting crust or a legal authorization to drive. 🚗

What does PLATE mean?

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

(noun)

  • a flat dish, typically circular and made of china, from which food is eaten or served
  • dishes, bowls, cups, and other utensils made of gold, silver, or other metal
  • a thin, flat sheet or strip of metal or other material, typically one used to join or strengthen things or forming part of a machine

When else has “Word after "tectonic" or "license"” appeared?

USA Today 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 19, 2026 (most recent) → PLATE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Word after "tectonic" or "license"”?

The answer is PLATE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 19, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Word after "tectonic" or "license"”?

5 letters: PLATE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on September 19, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 15-Across.

Can “Word after "tectonic" or "license"” have a different answer?

Yes — USA Today 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 USA Today answers?

The full grid for September 19, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

USA Today Crossword is published by USA Today; 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.