Crossword Genius

Retentive beast born ugly (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

absorbent

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

'retentive' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'beast born ugly' is the wordplay.
'ugly' indicates an anagram.
'beast'+'born'='beastborn'
'beastborn' is an anagram of 'ABSORBENT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for absorbent that I've seen before include "Sucking up liquid" , "Porous" , "Bob ran set (anag.)" , "Like a towel" , "Like a sponge" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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