Crossword Genius

Dreams up places where air travels (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

invents

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

'dreams up' is the definition.
(inventing is a kind of dreaming up)

'places where air travels' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'air' could be 'vent' (both can mean to express or reveal) and 'vent' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ins' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for invents that I've seen before include "Devises, makes up" , "Conceives" , "Contrives" , "Originates" , "Creates" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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