Crossword Genius

Needle from small tree (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spine

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'needle' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spine that I've seen before include "Strength of character" , "Backbone" , "Part of book's jacket" , "Vertebral column" , "Thorn" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Times.
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