Crossword Genius

Stops mess developing, with time (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stems

'stops' is the definition.
(stemming is a kind of stopping)

'mess developing with time' is the wordplay.
'developing with' indicates an anagram (letters developed into a new form).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'mess' anagrammed with 't' makes 'STEMS'.

(Other definitions for stems that I've seen before include "Stops" , "springs" , "Slender upright parts, flowers or glasses" , "Structures that support plants" , "things growing?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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