Crossword Genius

Sort of path taken by the serious student (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gravel

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'sort of path' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'the serious student' is the wordplay.
'the serious' becomes 'grave' (I've seen this before).
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'grave'+'l'='GRAVEL'

'taken by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gravel that I've seen before include "Coarse sand mixed with small stones" , "Mass of small stones" , "Loose fragments of rock" , "Rocky fragments" , "Rock fragments and pebbles" .)

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