Crossword Genius

Phone topless rogue for conversation (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dialogue

'for conversation' is the definition.
(dialogue is a kind of conversation)

'phone topless rogue' is the wordplay.
'phone' becomes 'dial phone' (dial phone is a kind of phone).
'topless' means to remove the first letter.
'rogue' with its first letter taken off is 'ogue'.
'dial'+'ogue'='DIALOGUE'

(Other definitions for dialogue that I've seen before include "Lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction" , "part of play one can't perform" , "The words spoken by characters in a play" , "Two-way conversation" , "Conversation as in a play" .)

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