Crossword Genius

Empty diary to accommodate private sector event (6,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dinner party

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'event' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'empty diary to accommodate private sector' is the wordplay.
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'to accommodate' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'private' becomes 'inner' (as in one's private or inner thoughts).
'sector' becomes 'part' (both can mean a segment).
'diary' with its middle taken out is 'dy'.
'inner'+'part'='innerpart'
'dy' enclosing 'innerpart' is 'DINNER PARTY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dinner party that I've seen before include "Sociable gathering for meal" , "Social gathering over a meal" , "social function" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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