Take the edge off a large place (5)

I believe the answer is:

allay

'take the edge off' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'a large place' is the wordplay.
'large' becomes 'l'.
'place' becomes 'lay' (laying is a kind of placing**).
'a'+'l'+'lay'='ALLAY'

(Other definitions for allay that I've seen before include "Diminish (fears/concern)" , "Assuage, ease" , "Mitigate" , "Diminish or end (fears)" , "Mollify or soothe, say fears" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.

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