Crossword Genius

Liven up note without salt (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

refresh

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'liven up' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'note without salt' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 're' (as in do-re-mi).
'without salt' becomes 'fresh' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
're'+'fresh'='REFRESH'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for refresh that I've seen before include "Give new strength to" , "cool" , "Stimulate as by reminding, or top up drink" , "Enliven once more" , "Reinvigorate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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