Sounds like Romeo is? (3)

I believe the answer is:

are

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'sounds like romeo is?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'sounds like romeo' is the wordplay.
'sounds like' shows a homophone (sound like).
'romeo' becomes 'r' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'r' is a homophone of 'ARE'.

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(Other definitions for are that I've seen before include "Exist; square measure" , "live" , "(We/you/they) exist" , "Era (anag.)" , "(They/you/we) exist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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