Crossword Genius

Place set aside for development (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

darkroom

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

'development' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'place set aside' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'place' could be 'room' (I've seen this before) and 'room' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'dark' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for darkroom that I've seen before include "development area" , "Place for developing photographs" , "Place to develop films" , "Film-developing cubicle" , "Film developer's workplace" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Irish News.
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