Crossword Genius

Chief thanks Centrelink for service (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maintain

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'service' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'chief thanks centrelink' is the wordplay.
'chief' becomes 'main' (synonyms).
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'centrelink' becomes 'in' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'main'+'ta'+'in'='MAINTAIN'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for maintain that I've seen before include "finance" , "Keep in existence or in repair" , "Keep - support" , "Profess" , "Keep in a good state of repair" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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