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Cell deaths topped small number Puck's got cross about (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

necrosis

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'cell deaths' is the definition.
(necrosis is the process of cell death)

'topped small number puck's got cross about' is the wordplay.
'topped' means to remove the first letter (to top something is to remove its top).
'small number' becomes 'one'.
'puck's got' becomes 'i' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'one' with its initial letter taken away is 'ne'.
'i' inserted inside 'cross' is 'crosis'.
'ne'+'crosis'='NECROSIS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for necrosis that I've seen before include "Localized death of cells" , "Localised death of living cells" , "Death of a piece of bone or tissue" , "Death of tissue cells" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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