Crossword Genius

Place to dry cereal when temperature brought down (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oast

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

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

'place to dry cereal when temperature' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'when' could be 'as' (eg 'when I walked' means 'as I walked') and 'as' is found within the answer.
'temperature' could be 't' (abbreviation) and 't' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'o' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'brought' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for oast that I've seen before include "Hop-drying kiln" , "Hop-kiln" , "Hop drying kiln" , "Oven for hops" , "Hop-drier" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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