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Careful to limit river breach, albeit minor (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cranny

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

'minor' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'careful to limit river breach albeit' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'river' could be 'r' (abbreviation for river) and 'r' is found within the answer.
'careful' could be 'canny' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'canny' is found in the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cranny that I've seen before include "Crevice as hiding place" , "Fissure - chink" , "corner" , "Small rock fissure" , "Crevice, goes with nook" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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