Crossword Genius

Crossed Bury, needing basic food picked up (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

interbred

'crossed' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'bury needing basic food picked up' is the wordplay.
'bury' becomes 'inter' (to inter is to put into the ground).
'needing' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'basic food' becomes 'bread' (staple food).
'picked up' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'bread' is a homophone of 'bred'.
'inter'+'bred'='INTERBRED'

(Other definitions for interbred that I've seen before include "produced within the family" , "Crossed (two species)" , "Mixed across species" , "Maybe like unusual animal" , "combined with another race" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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