Crossword Genius

Standing very clear -- it's exploding (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vertical

'standing' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'very clear it's exploding' is the wordplay.
'very' becomes 'v' (abbreviation).
'exploding' is an anagram indicator.
'clear'+'it'='clearit'
'clearit' with letters rearranged gives 'ertical'.
'v'+'ertical'='VERTICAL'

(Other definitions for vertical that I've seen before include "At right angles to the base line" , "Not laid down" , "Absolutely upright" , "Perfectly upright" , "Straight up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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