Crossword Genius

Butchers service lots of land (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

massacres

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'butchers' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot see how they can define each other.

'service lots of land' is the wordplay.
'service' becomes 'mass' (church service).
'lots of land' becomes 'acres' (I've seen this in another clue).
'mass'+'acres'='MASSACRES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for massacres that I've seen before include "Indiscriminate slaughters" , "kills a lot" , "Atrocities" , "Large-scale killings" , "Acts of slaughter" .)

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