Crossword Genius

Tear delicate fabric, meeting cost (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lacerate

'tear' is the definition.
(lacerating is a kind of tearing)

'delicate fabric meeting cost' is the wordplay.
'delicate fabric' becomes 'lace' (I've seen this before).
'meeting' says to put letters next to each other.
'cost' becomes 'rate' (rate is a kind of cost).
'lace'+'rate'='LACERATE'

(Other definitions for lacerate that I've seen before include "Deeply cut (flesh, skin)" , "Clare ate (anag)" , "Cut, leaving jagged edges" , "Tear, wound, hurt" , "Cut or tear irregularly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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