Crossword Genius

Turtle avoiding soft ground (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

terrain

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'ground' is the definition.
(terrain is land or ground)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for terrain that I've seen before include "Topography" , "Stretch of land with respect to its character" , "Trainer (anag) - land" , "Ground - rare tin (anag)" , "Piece of ground" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and the Financial Times.
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