Crossword Genius

Gauguin made a success in it somehow (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tahiti

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

'a success in it somehow' is the wordplay.
'success' becomes 'hit' (a hit is a commercial success).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'somehow' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'hit'='ahit'
'it' anagrammed gives 'ti'.
'ahit' placed within 'ti' is 'TAHITI'.

'made' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tahiti that I've seen before include "South Pacific island, associated with Robert Louis Stevenson" , "Polynesian island, chief town Papeete" , "I hit at this exotic island" , "Main island of French Polynesia" , "Pacific island, the largest in French Polynesia" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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