Spot-on in spreading rumours, maiden left tickled pink (9)

I believe the answer is:

rapturous

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'tickled pink' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs occasionally define each other.

'spot-on in spreading rumours maiden left' is the wordplay.
'spot-on' becomes 'apt' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'spreading' indicates an anagram.
'maiden' becomes 'm' (cricket abbreviation).
'left' suggests deleting specific letters.
'rumours' with 'm' removed is 'ruours'.
'ruours' with letters rearranged gives 'rurous'.
'apt' put into 'rurous' is 'RAPTUROUS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rapturous that I've seen before include "Delighted" , "Feeling great pleasure" , "Blissful" , "Wildly" , "over the moon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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