Crossword Genius

A large tree growing in a mountainous region (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alpine

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'growing in a mountainous region' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'a large tree' is the wordplay.
'large' becomes 'L' (eg in clothes sizes).
'tree' becomes 'pine' (pine tree is a kind of tree).
'a'+'l'+'pine'='ALPINE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alpine that I've seen before include "To do with great European mountains" , "Native growing up in mountainous area" , "Relating to a European mountain range" , "seen in rocky state?" , "Plant of high mountains" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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