French journal removes depleted database - it's a dud (5)
I believe the answer is:
lemon
'it's a dud' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lemon that I've seen before include "something defective" , "Fruit - useless thing" , "failure" , "Fruit (which is proverbially "the answer")" , "certainly not a plum!" .)