Crossword Genius

Affected when chip lacks length (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fake

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'affected' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for fake that I've seen before include "Not genuine, perhaps jewellery" , "Not genuine, like forged painting" , "Counterfeit object" , "Forge(ry)" , "Phoney (like news?)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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