Crossword Genius

Smooth beginning out of this clue (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

even

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'smooth' is the definition.
(I know that smooth can be written as even)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for even that I've seen before include "Regular - smooth" , "no-win situation?" , "Regularly; yet" , "draw" , "Nearly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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