Crossword Genius

Swellings seen as lumps around the middle of July (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nodules

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

'swellings' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Small swellings ' mean 'nodules' so perhaps 'swellings' could also mean 'nodules')

'lumps around the middle of july' is the wordplay.
'lumps' becomes 'nodes' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'the middle of' means to look at the middle letters.
The centre of 'july' is 'ul'.
'nodes' going around 'ul' is 'NODULES'.

'seen as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nodules that I've seen before include "Loudens due to small lumps" , "Small lumps - led us on (anag)" , "Loudens like lumps" , "Small rounded lumps" , "Small swellings" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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