Hair cut initially, diamonds used instead, as clothes! (7)
17A — Hair cut initially, diamonds used instead, as clothes! (7) — DRESSES
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Definition
Definition found: 'as clothes!' — The straight definition sits at one end of the clue, never the middle — which end reads as a plain word for what you put on?The straight definition sits at one end of the clue, never the middle — which end reads as a plain word for what you put on?
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'cut initially,'A phrase about trimming the very start of a word is a steer to drop its leading letter.
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Operation
'cut initially,' signals a deletion operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Hair'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Hair' → TRESSESBegin with the full word for what grows on a head, before anything is removed.
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'diamonds' → DThe replacement letter leads the answer, sitting in front of the trimmed word.
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Assembly
(TRESSES - T > RESSES) + D = DRESSES