Crossword Genius

Take off a penny in change (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

amputate

'take off' is the definition.

'a penny in change' is the wordplay.
'penny' becomes 'p'.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'change' becomes 'mutate' (mutating is a kind of changing**).
'p' placed within 'mutate' is 'mputate'.
'a'+'mputate'='AMPUTATE'

(Other definitions for amputate that I've seen before include "Cut off an arm or a leg" , "Surgically remove all or part of limb" , "In theatre, remove" , "Cut off (a limb)" , "Sever" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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