Quick Answer
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Crossword clue: “Flood regulator”
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Answer: LEVEE – 5 letters
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Clue number and direction: 4 Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Flood regulator” is answered with LEVEE in 5 letters. In the grid, it appears as LEVEE across.
Why LEVEE Is the Right NYT Answer
A levee is an embankment or wall built along a river or coast to prevent or control flooding, so it literally “regulates” where floodwaters can go. That makes LEVEE a direct, non-tricky match for “Flood regulator.”
For the February 12, 2026 NYT Mini, 4-Across is listed as LEVEE in the official answer rundowns. The five-letter length fits the slot, and the letters L‑E‑V‑E‑E all check out with crossing Downs like AGAVE and RAZES.
What LEVEE Means
In everyday language, a levee is a man-made ridge or embankment designed to hold back water and reduce flooding along rivers, lakes, or coasts. You’ll see levees used in low-lying areas or near big rivers that are prone to overflowing.
So the clue is simply pointing to that kind of flood-control structure—a levee—as the thing that “regulates” a flood.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
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When you see “Flood ___” or “Flood regulator/protection/preventer,” think of structural answers like LEVEE, DIKE, or DAM and use letter count to decide.
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For a 5-letter “flood regulator,” LEVEE is a very common crossword choice, especially in American-style puzzles.
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Use crossings: once you have L_E_E_ or _EVEE from intersecting answers, LEVEE becomes the obvious fill.
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Keep a short list of water-control entries: LEVEE, DIKE, DAM, WEIR are all frequent in NYT and other crosswords.
How LEVEE Fits the Grid
For 4-Across, the Mini provides a five-square slot, matching LEVEE perfectly. Pattern-wise, you’re filling:
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LEVEE(L‑E‑V‑E‑E)
Each letter is supported by Down crossings:
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L with MIMED.
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E with AGAVE.
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V with RAZES.
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E with GREEK.
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E with CAL.
When every cross makes a valid word, you can be confident LEVEE is the intended answer, not another flood-related term.
Other Ways LEVEE Might Be Clued
LEVEE shows up in many crosswords with related clue angles, such as:
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“Flood barrier”
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“Riverbank embankment”
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“Flood-control structure”
All of these go back to the same concept: an embankment for holding back or regulating water flow.
Complete February 12, 2026 NYT Mini Answers Today (Across & Down clues and answers)
Here are the main answers from the February 12, 2026 NYT Mini to help you complete the full grid.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Tequila cocktail that often comes in a salt-rimmed glass, casually | MARG | 4 |
| Signature export of Cuba | CIGAR | 5 |
| Bowl over | AMAZE | 5 |
| Flood regulator | LEVEE | 5 |
| Classroom station | DESK | 4 |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Acted without saying anything | MIMED | 5 |
| Desert plant used in tequila production | AGAVE | 5 |
| Demolishes | RAZES | 5 |
| Language from which we get “cosmos” and “democracy” | GREEK | 5 |
| Berkeley campus, for short | CAL | 3 |
