Intensify it using a celesta (8)

I believe the answer is:

escalate

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'intensify' is the definition.
(I know that intensify can be written as escalate)

'using a celesta' is the wordplay.
'using' indicates an anagram (the letters used in a different way).
'a'+'celesta'='acelesta'
'acelesta' with letters rearranged gives 'ESCALATE'.

'it' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for escalate that I've seen before include "Rapidly increase in intensity" , "Magnify" , "Quickly increase in scale" , "rocket" , "mushroom" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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