State we hear spelt without consonants? (4)

I believe the answer is:

iowa

'state' is the definition.
(I know that Iowa is a state)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for iowa that I've seen before include "US swing electoral state" , "Midwest US state" , "'Hawkeye State'" , "US state, capital Des Moines" , "part of US" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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