Crossword Genius

Endeavour to have a long, tapering object (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aspire

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

'long tapering object' is the definition.
'aspire' can be an answer for 'long' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'tapering object' bit.

'endeavour to have a' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'spire' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aspire that I've seen before include "Have a strong desire to achieve something" , "Have ambitions (to achieve something)" , "Have hopes (to achieve something)" , "Desire (to reach higher things)" , "Hope (to do something)" .)

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