Crossword Genius

Search countryside, or maybe beaches initially (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

comb

'search' is the definition.
(combing is a kind of searching)

'countryside or maybe beaches initially' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'countryside or maybe beaches' is 'COMB'.

(Other definitions for comb that I've seen before include "Barber's implement" , "Toothed grooming implement" , "Go over" , "Common hair tidier" , "Groom; search" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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