A certain degree of force used to eat food, we hear (4)

I believe the answer is:

dyne

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'a certain degree' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both quantities as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dyne that I've seen before include "Unit of force" , "physics unit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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