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It takes money to feed one (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

meter

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'feed one' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both quantities as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'it takes money to' is the wordplay.
'it' becomes ''t' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis).
'takes' means one lot of letters goes inside another (take can mean to capture or invade).
'money' becomes 'm' (abbreviation in economics).
'to' becomes 'eer' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'm'+'eer'='meer'
't' inserted into 'meer' is 'METER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for meter that I've seen before include "Instrument for measuring quantity" , "Device to measure quantity used of fluid, electricity etc" , "Gauge" , "Something measuring" , "Poe sometimes used this" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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