Lightly touch igloo’s exterior area next to house (5)

I believe the answer is:

patio

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'area next to house' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'lightly touch igloo's exterior' is the wordplay.
'lightly touch' becomes 'pat' (to pat something is to touch it lightly).
'exterior' means to remove the middle letters.
'igloo' with its middle taken out is 'io'.
'pat'+'io'='PATIO'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for patio that I've seen before include "Spanish courtyard" , "Where to put barbecue" , "Exterior paved area" , "Paved area alongside a house" , "Garden terrace" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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