Crossword Genius

A familiar facsimile (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fax

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This might be a double definition.

'a familiar' is the first definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'facsimile' is the second definition.
(synonyms)

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fax that I've seen before include "Modern method of transmitting printed matter by phone" , "Transmission of exact copies of documents electronically" , "Means of communication" , "Electronic transmission" , "Transmit document" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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