Crossword Genius

Relative partly installs fruit machine that talks? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

automaton

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

'machine that talks?' is the definition.
'automaton' can be an answer for 'machine' (I've seen this before). I am not sure about the rest of the definition.

'relative partly installs fruit' is the wordplay.
'relative partly' becomes 'aun' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'installs' is an insertion indicator.
'fruit' becomes 'tomato' (type of fruit).
'aun' enclosing 'tomato' is 'AUTOMATON'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for automaton that I've seen before include "variety of android" , "Amount to a (anag) - robot" , "Robotic figure" , "What may assemble" , "working robot" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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