Toy with operation on small lumps (7)

I believe the answer is:

dollops

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'lumps' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'toy with operation on small' is the wordplay.
'toy' becomes 'doll' (doll is a kind of toy).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'operation' becomes 'op'.
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'doll'+'op'+'s'='DOLLOPS'

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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