Crossword Genius

Burn coming from ocean before river (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sear

'burn' is the definition.
(sear can mean to burn)

'ocean before river' is the wordplay.
'ocean' becomes 'sea' (synonyms).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for river).
'sea'+'r'='SEAR'

'coming from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for sear that I've seen before include "Burn, scorch intensely" , "Dried-up, parched" , "Cook (quickly at great heat)" , "Withered" , "Cauterize" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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