NYT Dictionary

TOBACCO

/təˈbækoʊ/
NounVerbto-BAC-coto-bac-co · 3 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Any plant of the genus Nicotiana.

Etymology

Origin: Spanish

Attested since 1588, borrowed from Spanish tabaco. The Spanish word could be from Arabic طُبَّاق (ṭubbāq, “Dittrichia viscosa”) or from a Caribbean language such as Kari'na or Taíno or multiple of them, from a word meaning "roll of tobacco leaves" or "a pipe for smoking tobacco," such as tabago (“tube for inhaling smoke or powdered intoxicating plants”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

baccychewingherbsmokingsnuffy

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 8 recorded puzzles:

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