Crossword Genius

Decoration taking Malcolm about half an hour (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mural

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'decoration' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'malcolm about half an hour' is the wordplay.
'malcolm' becomes 'mal' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'half an hour' becomes 'ur'.
'mal' going around 'ur' is 'MURAL'.

'taking' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mural that I've seen before include "Wall art" , "Wall design" , "Wall-painting" , "Wall decoration" , "Large wall painting" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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