Crossword Genius

Initially indicating bananas to a trim ape? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

imitator

'ape?' is the definition.
(I know that ape can be written as imitator)

'initially indicating bananas to a trim' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'bananas' is an anagram indicator (informal term for mad).
The first letter of 'indicating' is 'i'.
'to'+'a'+'trim'='toatrim'
'toatrim' anagrammed gives 'mitator'.
'i'+'mitator'='IMITATOR'

(Other definitions for imitator that I've seen before include "One who copies another" , "Copier (of another)" , "A trio, Tim, is a mimic" , "Someone copying the behaviour of another" , "Ape" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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