Crossword Genius

Cook put a meal in to cook (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

manipulate

'cook' is the definition.
(I know that cook can be written as manipulate)

'cook put a meal in' is the wordplay.
'cook' indicates an anagram.
'put'+'a'+'meal'+'in'='putamealin'
'putamealin' with letters rearranged gives 'MANIPULATE'.

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for manipulate that I've seen before include "Handle, manoeuvre" , "Influence someone deviously" , "Use" , "Doctor" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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