Crossword Genius

Mean to take a cut on the vegetarian food (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

parsnip

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'the vegetarian food' is the definition.
'parsnip' can be an answer for 'food' (parsnip is a kind of food). I am not certain of the 'the vegetarian' bit.

'mean to take a cut' is the wordplay.
'mean' becomes 'par' (average score on a golf course).
'to take' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a cut' becomes 'snip' (snip is a kind of cut).
'par'+'snip'='PARSNIP'

'on' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for parsnip that I've seen before include "Spar pin (anag) - vegetable" , "Yellow root vegetable" , "Plant with edible white root" , "Tapering vegetable" , "A white root vegetable" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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