The crossword clue "Relating to Nose" is answered with NASAL — a five-letter adjective meaning "of, in, or relating to the nose." It is the standard dictionary definition, which is why setters use this exact wording, and it has appeared in the Guardian Quick, Telegraph Quick and other UK quick crosswords.
The Answer: NASAL
NASAL is the textbook answer. Dictionaries define "nasal" as an adjective meaning "of or in or relating to the nose", with synonyms including rhinal — and crossword databases rate it a 99% exact match for this clue (worddb.com; crossword-solver.io).
The clue has a solid publication history in UK puzzles:
- The Guardian Quick — Down 5, 12 June 2009 and Down 19, 7 May 2005
- The Guardian Speedy — Down 19, 31 May 2020 (for the variant "Pertaining to the Nose")
- Telegraph Quick — "Of the Nose" appeared as recently as 19 January 2026
(worddb.com)
NASAL: Meanings and Definitions
Understanding the word's full range helps you recognise related clues:
| Part of Speech | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | Of or in or relating to the nose | "nasal passages" |
| Adjective | Sounding as if the nose were pinched | "a nasal voice" (synonym: adenoidal) |
| Noun | A consonant produced through the nose with the mouth closed | "m", "n", "ng" sounds |
| Noun | The elongated bone forming the bridge of the nose | The nasal bone (os nasale) |
(crossword-solver.io)
Related Nose Clues and Their Answers
Setters recycle the same concept with different wording. Here are the common variants and what they usually want:
- "Of the nose" → NASAL (Telegraph Quick, 19 January 2026)
- "In the nose" → NASAL (Guardian Quick)
- "Pertaining to the nose" → NASAL (Guardian Speedy)
- "Through the nose" → NASAL (Guardian Quick)
- "Relating to the nostrils" (6 letters) → NARIAL — of or relating to or near the nares (worddb.com)
- "Type of short and flat nose" (7 letters) → SNUB-style answers (worddb.com lists this as a related query)
- "Astronauts left through the nose" → NASAL — a cryptic-style clue where "astronauts" gives NAS(A) and "left" gives L (worddb.com)
How to Solve It: Tips for Crossword Players
- Five letters and about noses? Think NASAL first. It is the default answer for almost every "relating to/of/in the nose" phrasing.
- Count the letters. Six letters? Consider NARIAL (relating to the nostrils). The answer length instantly narrows the field.
- Check crossings. A _ A S A L pattern with an N confirms NASAL; an A _ I A L pattern points toward NARIAL.
- Watch for the noun sense. "Nasal" can also clue a speech sound (the consonants m, n, ng) — useful in cryptics.
- Remember RHINAL. The synonym "rhinal" (of or relating to the nose) appears as an alternative answer in some databases.
- Beware the cryptic misdirect. In cryptic crosswords, "nose" in a clue often signals a word hidden inside another — e.g. "through the nose" hinting at containment wordplay rather than the definition.
For more walkthroughs, see our "Word for Word" crossword clue answer and our "Perfect" crossword clue answer.
Can NASAL be a noun in crosswords?
Yes — it can clue a nasal consonant (m, n, ng) or the nasal bone forming the bridge of the nose.
NASAL in Famous Crosswords: A Brief History
NASAL has been crossword furniture for decades, and its appearances tell a small story about how clue style has evolved:
- Early 2000s — the clue appears in its plainest form ("Relating to the nose") in the Guardian Quick and other UK broadsheets, a straightforward vocabulary test.
- The cryptic turn — setters began dressing it up. "Astronauts left through the nose" (NASA + L) is a textbook example of hiding a common word inside playful wordplay.
- 2026 and beyond — "Of the Nose" surfaced in the Telegraph Quick in January 2026, proving that even in the age of AI-assisted setting, the classics endure (worddb.com).
Anatomy Clues: A Solver's Mini-Guide
"Relating to Nose" belongs to a whole family of anatomy-definition clues that work the same way. Learning the pattern pays off across hundreds of puzzles:
| Clue Pattern | Go-To Answer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Relating to the ear" | OTIC, AURAL | OTIC is the anatomical adjective; AURAL the common one |
| "Relating to the eye" | OCULAR, OPTIC | Both standard |
| "Relating to the nose" | NASAL | The 99% answer |
| "Relating to the mouth" | ORAL | Straightforward |
| "Relating to the teeth" | DENTAL | Straightforward |
| "Relating to the skin" | CUTANEOUS, DERMAL | Longer, for bigger grids |
The rule of thumb: when a clue reads "relating to X" or "of the X", the setter almost always wants the Latin-derived anatomical adjective. Memorise the short list above and a surprising number of "stuck" moments disappear.
Why Five-Letter Anatomy Words Dominate Grids
NASAL, OTIC, ORAL — notice the pattern. Five-letter anatomy adjectives are grid gold: they are common enough for solvers to know, short enough to fit anywhere, and their letters (lots of vowels) interlock beautifully with crossing answers. Setters reach for them constantly, which is exactly why "Relating to Nose" keeps reappearing year after year.
Other Body-Part Clues That Work the Same Way
"Relating to Nose" belongs to a whole family of anatomy clues built the same way — a plain-English definition hiding a Latin-derived adjective. Learn the family and you get them all free.
- Ear → OTIC or AURAL. "Relating to the ear" is OTIC (four letters) or AURAL (five). Like NASAL, both come from Latin roots and appear constantly in quick crosswords.
- Eye → OPTIC or OCULAR. "Relating to the eye" gives OPTIC or OCULAR — the same pattern as NASAL, one letter-count away from being interchangeable.
- Skin → DERMAL or CUTANEOUS. Shorter grids favour DERMAL; the longer form appears in bigger puzzles.
- Bone → OSSEOUS. A favourite of harder puzzles, from the Latin os (bone).
- Blood → HEMAL. Less common, but it follows the identical formula.
The pattern is always the same: take the body part, find its Latin or Greek root, and add the -AL or -IC ending. Once you see the formula, these clues stop being trivia and start being free answers.
What is the answer to “Relating to Nose” crossword clue?
NASAL — a five-letter adjective meaning “of, in, or relating to the nose.”
When was “Relating to the Nose” last seen in a crossword?
It appeared in the Guardian Quick crossword (Down 5, 12 June 2009). The closely related clue “Of the Nose” appeared in the Telegraph Quick as recently as 19 January 2026.
What does NASAL mean?
As an adjective, “nasal” means of or relating to the nose, or sounding as if the nose were pinched. As a noun, it means a consonant produced through the nose (like m or n) or the nasal bone.
What is a 6-letter answer for nose-related clues?
NARIAL — “of or relating to or near the nares (nostrils).”
Is RHINAL the same as NASAL?
Rhinal is a synonym of nasal in the anatomical sense — both mean relating to the nose. Either can appear as a crossword answer.
Why do crosswords use “Relating to Nose” so often?
Because NASAL is a clean five-letter word with common letters, it fits grids easily, and the clue is a straight dictionary definition that works in quick crosswords of all difficulty levels.
What is the “Astronauts left through the nose” clue?
A cryptic-style clue for NASAL: “astronauts” gives NASA, “left” gives L, and “through the nose” is the definition — NASA + L = NASAL.
Can NASAL be a noun in crosswords?
Yes — it can clue a nasal consonant (m, n, ng) or the nasal bone forming the bridge of the nose.
What is the ear equivalent of NASAL?
OTIC (four letters) or AURAL (five letters) — both mean “relating to the ear” and appear in crosswords exactly the way NASAL does for the nose.
What other anatomy words appear often in crosswords?
ULNA, TIBIA, AORTA, OPTIC, OTIC and DERMAL are all crossword regulars. Short, vowel-rich anatomy terms are grid gold, so setters reuse them constantly.