Crossword Genius

Admit top missing from equipment currently on shelf (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

acknowledge

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'admit' is the definition.
(I know that admit can be written as acknowledge)

'equipment currently on shelf' is the wordplay.
'equipment currently' becomes 'acknow' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'shelf' becomes 'ledge' (synonyms).
'acknow'+'ledge'='ACKNOWLEDGE'

'top missing from' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for acknowledge that I've seen before include "Admit - recognise - thank" , "Express thanks for" , "Indicate obligation to" , "Show recognition of" , "Confess" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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