Crossword Genius

Girl’s keeping new belt (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

zone

'belt' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'girl's keeping new' is the wordplay.
'girl' becomes 'zoe' (**).
'keeping' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'new' becomes 'n'.
'zoe' placed around 'n' is 'ZONE'.

(Other definitions for zone that I've seen before include "Area with particular characteristics" , "One of five belts round the earth" , "Designated or defined area" , "Bitter, pungent" , "Area; belt" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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