Crossword Genius

Bearing gifts for the audience (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

presence

'bearing' is the definition.
(I know that bearing is a class)

'gifts for the audience' is the wordplay.
'gifts' becomes 'presents' (present is a kind of gift).
'for the audience' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue (how an audience might hear it).
'presents' sounds like 'PRESENCE'.

(Other definitions for presence that I've seen before include "Physical attendance or imposing bearing" , "Aura; nearness" , "Personal appearance, aura" , "Personal attendance" , "Bearing, comportment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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