Crossword Genius

Groom takes look round capital (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

colombo

'capital' is the definition.
(Colombo is an example)

'groom takes look round' is the wordplay.
'groom' becomes 'comb' (combing is a kind of grooming).
'takes' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'look' becomes 'lo' (archaic term meaning 'look!').
'round' becomes 'o' (round can mean a round object).
'comb' placed around 'lo' is 'colomb'.
'colomb'+'o'='COLOMBO'

(Other definitions for colombo that I've seen before include "Asian capital" , "Capital of Sri Lanka" , "Sri Lankan port" , "Sri Lankan capital" , "Sri Lankan city" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app