Crossword Genius

Record temperature, then take off (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tape

'record' is the definition.
(I know that record can be written as tape)

'temperature then take off' is the wordplay.
'temperature' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'then' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'take off' becomes 'ape' (both can mean to imitate).
't'+'ape'='TAPE'

(Other definitions for tape that I've seen before include "that may be red" , "that race winner may break" , "Race winning line; record" , "Race finishing-line" , "Sticky strip" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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