Crossword Genius

Preserve a track for singer in cage? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

canary

'singer in cage?' is the definition.
(caged bird)

'preserve a track' is the wordplay.
'preserve' becomes 'can' (canning is a kind of preserving).
'track' becomes 'RY' (abbreviation for railway).
'can'+'a'+'ry'='CANARY'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for canary that I've seen before include "Songbird once used to detect toxic gases in mines" , "A yellow singing cage-bird" , "Bird from an island group" , "grass" , "Caged song bird" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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