Crossword Genius

Don leaves motherland, travelling for warmth (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thermal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'warmth' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'don leaves motherland travelling' is the wordplay.
'leaves' is a deletion indicator.
'travelling' is an anagram indicator.
'motherland' with 'don' removed is 'mtherla'.
'mtherla' with letters rearranged gives 'THERMAL'.

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thermal that I've seen before include "Relating to heat" , "Pertaining to heat" , "Warm or hot, say air or spring" , "Warming" , "which can take a glider up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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