Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Halves of diameters” has the answer “RADII”, which is a 5-letter entry.
Clue: “Halves of diameters”
Answer: RADII
Length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 3-Down (3D) in the NYT Mini for January 31, 2026.
In the grid, it appears vertically as R A D I I.
Why RADII Is the Right NYT Answer
- In geometry, a diameter is exactly twice the length of a radius, so each radius is literally “half of a diameter.” The plural of radius is radii, which gives the precise mathematical answer the clue is aiming at.
- Crossword resources for the January 31, 2026 NYT Mini confirm that RADII is the 5-letter solution for this clue, matching both the definition and the required letter count.
What RADII Means in Plain English
- Radii is just the plural of radius. A radius is a line from the center of a circle to its edge, so “radii” means more than one such line, whether you’re talking about several circles or several lines in the same circle.
- Because a diameter goes all the way across the circle through the center, it is made up of two radii placed end to end.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Recurrence
- RADII is a very common crossword answer whenever the clue references circles, diameters, or “plural of radius.”
- In the January 31, 2026 Mini, straightforward crossings from nearby Across entries make the unusual double II at the end easy to confirm.
- Similar clue styles that often lead to RADII include “Circle segments from the center,” “Lines from a center,” and “Plural of radius.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue sounds even slightly mathy or mentions circles (center, circumference, diameter), think of RADIUS/RADII as top candidates.
- Watch for plural wording like “halves,” “segments,” or “lines,” which usually means the grid wants RADII instead of RADIUS.
If you see R A D _ _ with a geometry clue, filling in the double I and checking crosses is usually the fastest way to lock in RADII.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 29, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Lifeguard’s skill, for short | View Answer |
| 4A | Health measure calculated using height and weight: Abbr. | View Answer |
| 7A | “I’ve cracked the code!” | View Answer |
| 8A | Long, long time | View Answer |
| 9A | Like a desert’s climate | View Answer |
| 1D | Header on a company’s website, perhaps | View Answer |
| 2D | Opponent of a Met or Marlin, in the N.L. East | View Answer |
| 3D | Halves of diameters | View Answer |
| 4D | Tech release that’s not the finished product | View Answer |
| 9D | Words from someone hoping to be friends on Facebook | View Answer |
