Crossword Genius

Stove used by top researcher to make gelatinous substance (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

agar

'gelatinous substance' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'stove used by top researcher' is the wordplay.
'stove' becomes 'aga' (I've seen this before).
'used by' says to put letters next to each other.
'top' indicates taking the first letters (in a down clue, the first letter is top).
The first letter of 'researcher' is 'r'.
'aga'+'r'='AGAR'

'to make' is the link.

(Other definitions for agar that I've seen before include "Food thickener (derived from seaweed)" , "Seaweed jelly" , "Food thickening agent obtained from seaweed" , "a newspaper rejected" , "Jelly used in bacteria culture" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app