Note navy followed and spread out (9)

I believe the answer is:

fantailed

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'spread out' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs can occasionally mean the same thing.

'note navy followed' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'fa' (musical note).
'navy' becomes 'N' (common abbreviation eg in RN Royal Navy).
'followed' becomes 'tailed' (I've seen this before).
'fa'+'n'+'tailed'='FANTAILED'

'and' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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