Crossword Genius

Call it up, Charlie, in this alphabet (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

phonetic

'this alphabet' is the definition.
(phonetic alphabet is a kind of alphabet)

'call it up charlie' is the wordplay.
'call' becomes 'phone' ('phone call' can be a synonym of 'call'**).
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'charlie' becomes 'c' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'it' written backwards gives 'ti'.
'phone'+'ti'+'c'='PHONETIC'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for phonetic that I've seen before include "Relating to speech sounds" , "representing vocal sounds" , "Relating to the sounds of spoken language" , "Relating to the sound of words" , "(Spelling) as pronounced" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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