Crossword Genius

Beastly type together with cutting secretary (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

panda

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'beastly type' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'together with cutting secretary' is the wordplay.
'together with' becomes 'and' (and means together with or alongside).
'cutting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters cut their way into a word).
'secretary' becomes 'PA' (abbreviation for personal assistant).
'and' placed inside 'pa' is 'PANDA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for panda that I've seen before include "See 17" , "giant animal" , "One eating bamboo" , "Black-eyed animal" , "shoots lover" .)

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