LA Times Crossword · 13-Across · 4 letters
+ or - particles LA Times Crossword clue
Editorially reviewed September 1, 2026
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What to notice
Think of four-letter charged particles in chemistry.
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Answer
How the trick resolves
IONS fits because an ion may be positively charged or negatively charged, matching the plus and minus symbols. The plural clue requires the four-letter plural.
Continue this puzzleStash →The turn in the clue
The mathematical symbols are being used as signs of electrical charge rather than arithmetic operations.
The answer in plain English
Ions are atoms or molecules carrying a positive or negative electric charge.
Where this clue appeared
13-Across in LA Times Crossword puzzle for September 1, 2026.
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