A course for beginners (4)

I believe the answer is:

soup

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'a course' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for soup that I've seen before include "liquid content in this food" , "Cock-a-leekie, for example" , "Mulligatawny or borscht?" , "See 19" , "Stolen plate melted down" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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