Climbed, as first of clouds finished (8)

I believe the answer is:

ascended

'climbed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'as first of clouds finished' is the wordplay.
'first of clouds' becomes 'c' (1st letter of 'clouds').
'finished' becomes 'ended' (similar in meaning).
'as'+'c'+'ended'='ASCENDED'

(Other definitions for ascended that I've seen before include "R [ROSE]" , "Climbed, went up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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