Crossword Genius

Start being a complete lunatic re pumpkin (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

butternut

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

're pumpkin' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both things that one consumes for nourishment as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'start being a complete lunatic' is the wordplay.
'start being' becomes 'b' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'a complete' becomes 'utter' (both can mean total).
'lunatic' becomes 'nut' (I've seen this before).
'b'+'utter'+'nut'='BUTTERNUT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for butternut that I've seen before include "species of tree" , "Variety of pumpkin" , "Wood" , "sort of a squash" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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