Drums up less at work (8)

I believe the answer is:

pulsates

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'drums' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'up less at work' is the wordplay.
'work' is an anagram indicator.
'up'+'less'+'at'='uplessat'
'uplessat' with letters rearranged gives 'PULSATES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pulsates that I've seen before include "Palpitates or throbs like heart" , "Throbs regularly like heart" , "Throbs like 6 Down" .)

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

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