Crossword Genius

Take in a smile as it develops (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

assimilate

'take in' is the definition.
('assimilate' can be a synonym of 'take in')

'a smile as it develops' is the wordplay.
'develops' indicates anagramming the letters.
'smile'+'as'+'it'='smileasit'
'smileasit' anagrammed gives 'ssimilate'.
'a'+'ssimilate'='ASSIMILATE'

(Other definitions for assimilate that I've seen before include "Become part of the prevailing culture" , "Take in and understand" , "pick up" , "Absorb and digest (food)" , "thoroughly understood" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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