Crossword Genius

Complaint spread from mouth to ear (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

groan

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

'complaint' is the definition.
(to groan is to complain about something)

'spread from mouth to ear' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'from' could be 'o' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'o' is found within the answer.
'spread' could be 'ran' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'ran' is present in the leftover letters.
A single letter 'g' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for groan that I've seen before include "Complaint" , "Expression of pain or disapproval" , "painful sigh" , "Titus -- (Mervyn Peake)" , "Complain" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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