Crossword Genius

Counterattack speed has broken a tile (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

retaliate

'counterattack' is the definition.
(I know that counterattack is a more specific form of retaliate)

'speed has broken a tile' is the wordplay.
'speed' becomes 'rate' (the speed at which something happens).
'has' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'broken' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'tile'='atile'
'atile' anagrammed gives 'etali'.
'rate' placed around 'etali' is 'RETALIATE'.

(Other definitions for retaliate that I've seen before include "Repay injury with similar one" , "Hit back" , "Give back blow for blow" , "Strike back, counter" , "Get revenge" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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