Crossword Genius

Leaves turn, cutting pain short (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spinach

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'leaves' is the definition.
(leafy vegetable)

'turn cutting pain short' is the wordplay.
'turn cutting' becomes 'spin' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pain' becomes 'ache' (ache is a kind of pain).
'short' means to remove the last letter.
'ache' with its final letter removed is 'ach'.
'spin'+'ach'='SPINACH'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spinach that I've seen before include "Blackboard stand" , "Leafy vegetable" , "Vegetable, source of iron" , "Popeye the Sailor's vegetable of choice" , "Popeye's vegetable" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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