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Be focused and cordial (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

concentrate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'cordial' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both things that one consumes for nourishment as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'be focused' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'be' could be 'rate' (rating is a kind of being) and 'rate' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'concent' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for concentrate that I've seen before include "Think" , "What thinker may have to do" , "Increase the strength of (a solution)" , "Focus one's thoughts" , "get solution in chemistry" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
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