Crossword Genius

Material in reef, cold on examination (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coral

'material in reef' is the definition.
(as in a coral reef)

'cold on examination' is the wordplay.
'cold' becomes 'c' (eg on taps).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'examination' becomes 'oral' (oral is a kind of examination).
'c'+'oral'='CORAL'

(Other definitions for coral that I've seen before include "Tone" , "Reef-forming sea life" , "Tiny animal forming reef" , "Orangey-pink" , "Hard pink substance formed by skeletons of tiny sea creatures" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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