Crossword Genius

Top ten is beneath parody (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

apex

'top' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'ten is beneath parody' is the wordplay.
'ten' becomes 'x' (roman numeral).
'is beneath' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue).
'parody' becomes 'ape'.
'x' after 'ape' is 'APEX'.

(Other definitions for apex that I've seen before include "The highest point of something" , "Point or summit" , "high-point" , "The tip or highest point (4)" , "crown" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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