Crossword Genius

Glut of butter in the southeast? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spate

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'glut' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'butter in the southeast?' is the wordplay.
'butter' becomes 'pat' (a pat can mean a lump of butter).
'in the' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'southeast?' becomes 'SE' ('SE' can be a synonym of 'southeast').
'pat' placed within 'se' is 'SPATE'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spate that I've seen before include "rash" , "Fast outpouring" , "A sudden flood or rush" , "Suddenly got a lot" , "Rush, flood (of river)" .)

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