Crossword Genius

Silvery colour used around lining of uniform, causes a debate (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

argument

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

'debate' is the definition.
(I know that debate can be written as argument)

'silvery colour used around lining of uniform causes a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'uniform' could be 'u' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.) and 'u' is present in the answer.
'causes' could be 'men' (man is a kind of cause) and 'men' is present in the answer.
'a' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for argument that I've seen before include "Quarrel, row" , "Heated debate" , "Contentious debate" , "Discussion - line of proof" , "Tiff" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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