Crossword Genius

Like appeals close to umpire (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

please

'like' is the definition.
(pleasing is a kind of liking)

'appeals close to umpire' is the wordplay.
'appeals' becomes 'pleas' (plea is a kind of appeal).
'close to' says to take the final letters (the close of something is the end).
The last letter of 'umpire' is 'e'.
'pleas'+'e'='PLEASE'

(Other definitions for please that I've seen before include "(Word used in) asking or accepting politely" , "suit" , "Be good enough to" , "Give pleasure to (someone)" , "It's said to help" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Times.
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