Crossword Genius

Diamonds on ground in shortage (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dearth

'shortage' is the definition.
(dearth can mean a shortage or lack)

'diamonds on ground' is the wordplay.
'diamonds' becomes 'd' (abbreviation for the card suit diamonds).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'ground' becomes 'earth' (synonyms).
'd'+'earth'='DEARTH'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for dearth that I've seen before include "Hatred (anag) -- shortage" , "Shortage, lack" , "From shortage of food" , "Scarceness or lack" , "Severe shortage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Sun.
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