Crossword Genius

Break free from a strip long stripped (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abandon

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

'break free' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with ownership as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'a strip long stripped' is the wordplay.
'a strip' becomes 'aband' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stripped' says to take the centre (outside letters removed).
The centre of 'long' is 'on'.
'aband'+'on'='ABANDON'

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abandon that I've seen before include "Desert; give up (action)" , "Desert, strand" , "Desert, forsake" , "Stop" , "Desert or yield without restraint" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app