Hoskins would start to examine answer to make clue (4)

I believe the answer is:

idea

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'clue' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'hoskins would start to examine answer' is the wordplay.
'hoskins' becomes 'i' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'would' becomes 'd' (I've seen this in other clues).
'start to' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'examine answer' is 'ea'.
'i'+'d'+'ea'='IDEA'

'to make' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for idea that I've seen before include "Thought, belief" , "Purpose" , "It comes to mind" , "Thought; concept" , "Fancy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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