Crossword Genius

Though monotonous, it's arguably groovy (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rut

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

'arguably groovy' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'though monotonous it's' is the wordplay.
'though monotonous' becomes 'ru' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'it' becomes ''t' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis).
'ru'+'t'='RUT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rut that I've seen before include "animal passion" , "Pothole" , "Road depression, difficult to get out of" , "occupying male deer in autumn" , "Groove worn in surface" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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