Crossword Genius

Buddy cooked, eating last of bacon (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

friend

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'buddy' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'cooked eating last of bacon' is the wordplay.
'cooked' becomes 'fried' (similar in meaning).
'eating' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'last of bacon' becomes 'n' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'fried' placed around 'n' is 'FRIEND'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for friend that I've seen before include "One you know well and regard with affection" , "Member of a religious community" , "Associate, supporter" , "Person with whom you have a bond of mutual affection" , "allowed to pass by the guard" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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