Talk, spreading malicious gossip about a fashion centre (4)

I believe the answer is:

chat

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

'talk spreading' is the definition.
'chat' can be an answer for 'talk' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'spreading' bit.

'malicious gossip about a fashion centre' is the wordplay.
'malicious gossip' becomes 'cat' (I've seen this before).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'centre' indicates the central letters.
The centre of 'fashion' is 'h'.
'cat' placed around 'h' is 'CHAT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chat that I've seen before include "Talk familiarly" , "gas" , "waffle?" , "Talk easily; songbird" , "Rabbit" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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