Crossword Genius

Materialize, retaining form, and change category (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reclassify

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'change category' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'materialize retaining form' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'form' could be 'class' ('class' can be a synonym of 'form') and 'class' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'reify' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for reclassify that I've seen before include "Change category" , "Categorise differently" , "Update assignment to groups" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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