Crossword Genius

Expensive-sounding animal (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deer

'animal' is the definition.
(deer is a type of animal)

'expensive-sounding' is the wordplay.
'expensive' becomes 'dear' (similar in meaning).
'sounding' shows a homophone (sound like).
'dear' is a homophone of 'DEER'.

(Other definitions for deer that I've seen before include "Wild animal" , "See 23" , "Grazing animal(s)" , "Hoofed grazing animal" , "Perhaps fallow" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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