Crossword Genius

City is flat and cold in the beginning (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cleveland

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

'cold in the beginning' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'city is flat and' is the wordplay.
'city' becomes 'c' (this might be a standard abbreviation which I don't know about).
'is flat' becomes 'level' (synonyms).
'c'+'level'+'and'='CLEVELAND'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cleveland that I've seen before include "Northeast English county, created 1974" , "Ohio city on Lake Erie" , "Old county" , "Ohio's largest city" , "US President?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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