Crossword Genius

New field first making list (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lean

'list' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'new field first' is the wordplay.
'new' becomes 'n'.
'field' becomes 'lea' (I've seen this before**).
'first' says to put letters next to each other.
'n' after 'lea' is 'LEAN'.

'making' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for lean that I've seen before include "Wiry" , "What Jack Sprat's wife couldn't eat" , "Slim; veer" , "English film director" , "Incline to prop against" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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