Crossword Genius

Save a singer from massacre (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

but

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'save' is the definition.
('but' can mean 'save' or 'except')

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for but that I've seen before include "Only in attribution" , "On the contrary" , "Save" , "Only; apart from" , "However" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
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