Crossword Genius

Subject of toy piece oddly missing (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

topic

'subject' is the definition.
(as in a topic for discussion)

'toy piece oddly missing' is the wordplay.
'toy' becomes 'top' (top is a kind of toy).
'oddly missing' indicates alternate letters (letters in odd-numbered positions removed).
The alternate letters of 'piece' are 'ic'.
'top'+'ic'='TOPIC'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for topic that I've seen before include "Subject matter, theme" , "Content of argument" , "Subject matter of a conversation or discussion" , "Issue (for discussion)" , "A subject for conversation or debate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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