Crossword Genius

Make scratches in roof of shopping centre (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

score

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'make scratches' is the definition.
'score' can be an answer for 'make' (thesaurus). I am unsure of the 'scratches' bit.

'roof of shopping centre' is the wordplay.
'roof of' indicates taking the first letters (in a down clue, the top letter).
'centre' becomes 'core' (core is a kind of centre).
The first letter of 'shopping' is 's'.
's'+'core'='SCORE'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for score that I've seen before include "Total of points" , "Number of runs" , "record" , "Nick; twenty" , "Tally; scratch" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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