Crossword Genius

Measure strength and speed of bird? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

titrate

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'bird?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'measure strength and speed' is the wordplay.
'measure strength' becomes 'tit' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'speed' becomes 'rate' (rate is a kind of speed).
'tit'+'rate'='TITRATE'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for titrate that I've seen before include "Experimental way to measure" , "measure volume" , "Carry out scientific analysis" , "Measure the strength of (a solution) using a reagent" , "Use indicator maybe" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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