Crossword Genius

The Spanish leading on opening stretch (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

elongate

'stretch' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'the spanish leading on opening' is the wordplay.
'the spanish' becomes 'el' ('the' in Spanish).
'leading' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'opening' becomes 'gate' (I have seen 'Movable opening ' mean 'gate' so perhaps 'opening' could also mean 'gate').
'el'+'on'+'gate'='ELONGATE'

(Other definitions for elongate that I've seen before include "Drag out" , "Open out" , "Stretch, lengthen" , "Make longer" , "Stretch, pull" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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