The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word DEATH
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
E
A
T
H
More clues leading to the result DEATH
- Fond of fellow, having suppressed dreadful hate
- It’s the end of a traditional match
- End of episode — a three-parter?
- A hound’s tail wagging with the hunt’s climax
- Expiration date stamped on top of ham
- Curtains some made at home
- Doctor hated curtains
- Want to remove resistance, inviting mortality
- Worry that daughter initially hates net curtains
- Thread runs out embroidering curtains
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "It’s the end of a traditional match" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case it’s the end of a traditional match = death.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DEATH mean?
DEATH noun- The cessation of life and all associated processes; the end of an organism's existence as an entity independent from its environment and its return to an inert, nonliving state.
- (often capitalized) The personification of death as a hooded figure with a scythe; the Grim Reaper. The pronoun he is not the only option, but probably the most traditional one, as it matches with the male grammatical gender of Old English dēaþ, also with cognate German der Tod. The fourth apocalyptic rider (Bible, revelations 6:8) is male θᾰ́νᾰτος (thanatos) in Greek. It has the female name Mors in Latin, but is referred to with male forms qui and eum. The following quotes show this rider on a pale horse is his in the English Bible and she in Peter Gabriel's lyrics.
- (the death) The collapse or end of something.
- Spiritual lifelessness.