Crossword Genius

Colourful chatterer's caress entertaining a debauchee (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

parakeet

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'colourful chatterer's caress entertaining a debauchee' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'caress entertaining a debauchee' is the wordplay.
'caress' becomes 'pet' (petting is a kind of caressing).
'entertaining' indicates putting letters inside.
'debauchee' becomes 'rake' (rake is a kind of debauchee).
'a'+'rake'='arake'
'pet' placed around 'arake' is 'PARAKEET'.

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(Other definitions for parakeet that I've seen before include "Flier" , "Colourful singer" , "Small long-tailed parrot" , "Take pear (anag) - bird" , "Small long-tailed bird" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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