Crossword Genius

Misses southern singer holding nothing back (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

avoids

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

'misses' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'southern singer holding nothing back' is the wordplay.
'southern' becomes 'S' (abbreviation).
'singer' becomes 'diva' (diva is a kind of singer).
'holding' is an insertion indicator.
'nothing' becomes 'o' (looks like zero - 0).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
's'+'diva'='sdiva'
'sdiva' placed around 'o' is 'sdiova'.
'sdiova' backwards is 'AVOIDS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for avoids that I've seen before include "Shuns, keeps away from" , "Escapes" , "Ducks (out of)" , "Keeps away or refrains from" , "Steers clear of, dodges" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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