Crossword Genius

Stay put as duck drinks from edge of Cloon in Clare (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coalesce

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

'stay put' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'duck drinks from edge of cloon in clare' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'duck' could be 'o' (resembles zero - 'duck' in cricket) and 'o' is found in the answer.
'drinks' could be 'ales' (ale is a kind of drink) and 'ales' is present in the answer.
'from' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'as' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for coalesce that I've seen before include "Unite" , "Join into one mass" , "Merge into one" , "Combine and form one whole, as political parties may" , "Grow together, amalgamate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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