Use of a dramatic musical note (7)

I believe the answer is:

operate

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'use' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'dramatic musical note' is the wordplay.
'dramatic musical' becomes 'opera' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'dramatic' bit.).
'note' becomes 'te' (musical note).
'opera'+'te'='OPERATE'

'of a' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for operate that I've seen before include "Make to work" , "Make function" , "(Of machine) function" , "Control, run, a mcahine say" , "effect" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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