Crossword Genius

A lot of very black paint for example? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

verb

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'paint for example?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'a lot of very black' is the wordplay.
'a lot of' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'very' with its final letter taken off is 'ver'.
'ver'+'b'='VERB'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for verb that I've seen before include "Maybe protest" , "Old-fashioned art, for example" , "Predicate of a sentance (4)" , "The predicate of a sentence" , "Word such as run, make, or do" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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