Crossword Genius

Chopped up 100 ruby red eider hearts (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cubed

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'chopped up 100 ruby' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'red eider hearts' is the wordplay.
'red' becomes 'cube' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'hearts' indicates the central letters.
The middle letter of 'eider' is 'd'.
'cube'+'d'='CUBED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cubed that I've seen before include "(Of number) multiplied by its own square" , "Like some sugar" , "One is so unchanging" , "To the power of three" , "Divided up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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