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Record by socialist got thinner (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tapered

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'got thinner' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'record by socialist' is the wordplay.
'record' becomes 'tape' (taping is a kind of recording).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'socialist' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean a socialist).
'tape'+'red'='TAPERED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tapered that I've seen before include "Gradually narrowing" , "Coming to a point" , "Narrowing towards one end" , "Becoming narrower towards one end" , "Became gradually narrower as candle may" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror and The Daily Express.
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