Types of cryptic clue

Cryptic clues spell their answer out using one of a handful of tricks. You don't need to memorise them — while you play, the ? on any clue names the one in play — but here they all are, easiest to spot first.

Anagram

The answer's letters are jumbled somewhere in the clue.

Signals mixed, broken, cooked, confused, strangely

Recruit, strangely silent (6) → ENLIST

Hidden word

The answer is concealed in a run of consecutive letters.

Signals hidden, in, some of, part of

Concealed by these cretins (6) → SECRET

Reversal

Part of the clue spells the answer backwards.

Signals back, returning, reversed, (going up in a Down clue)

Drawer pulled back for a prize (6) → REWARD

Charade

Smaller pieces are joined end to end to build the answer.

Signals usually none; the word order joins the pieces

Vehicle pet makes a floor covering (6) → CAR + PET = CARPET

Container

One set of letters is placed inside another.

Signals in, inside, around, holding, swallowing, trapped

Sailor trapped in a sling is a bird (8) → S(TAR)LING = STARLING

Deletion

The answer is what's left after letters are removed from a longer word.

Signals endlessly, almost, headless, without, losing

Gaze endlessly to find a celebrity (4) → STAR(E) = STAR

Initialism

The answer is spelled by the edge letters of a run of words.

Signals initially, firstly, leaders, primarily, to start

Sally trips on Pete, primarily, to halt (4) → STOP

Homophone

The answer sounds like another word or phrase in the clue.

Signals we hear, sounds like, reportedly, spoken, on the radio

Sounds like a flower, but the baker needs it (5) → FLOUR

Double definition

The clue gives two separate definitions of the same answer.

Signals a short clue with no jumble or joining words

A dog's noise; also a tree's outer layer (4) → BARK