Crossword Genius

Tea for a large number in African republic (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chad

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

'african republic' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

'tea for a large number' is the wordplay.
'tea' becomes 'cha' (cha is a type of tea).
'for' says to put letters next to each other.
'a large number' becomes 'd' ().
'cha'+'d'='CHAD'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chad that I've seen before include "Landlocked desert country of northern central Africa, formerly a French colony" , "cartoon character" , "Fish" , "Paper punch waste; African country" , "foreign land" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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