Crossword Genius

Tight flips in the middle of great move (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

actuate

'move' is the definition.
(actuate can mean to motivate or drive)

'tight flips in the middle of great' is the wordplay.
'tight' becomes 'taut' (synonyms).
'flips' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'in the middle of' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'great' becomes 'ace' (I've seen this before).
'taut' written backwards gives 'tuat'.
'tuat' placed into 'ace' is 'ACTUATE'.

(Other definitions for actuate that I've seen before include "Trigger off, energise" , "Inspire" , "get going" , "trip?" , "Cause to operate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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