Crossword Genius

Hose with tear needing repair? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

water

'hose' is the definition.
(hose a flowerbed say)

'with tear needing repair?' is the wordplay.
'with' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'needing repair?' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'need of repair' mean this).
'tear' with letters rearranged gives 'ater'.
'w'+'ater'='WATER'

(Other definitions for water that I've seen before include "Classical element" , "Inundate" , "something damp" , "Common liquid" , "Essential liquid" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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