Crossword Genius

Variable figure arrived transfixed by hot Spanish city (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chameleon

'variable figure' is the definition.
(variable or changeable person)

'arrived transfixed by hot spanish city' is the wordplay.
'arrived' becomes 'came' (come can mean to appear or arrive).
'transfixed by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
'spanish city' becomes 'leon' (Leon is a city in Spain).
'came' placed around 'h' is 'chame'.
'chame'+'leon'='CHAMELEON'

(Other definitions for chameleon that I've seen before include "Variable-colour reptile" , "Lizard whose skin changes colour" , "fickle person" , "Lizard that can adapt its colours to background" , "Ha! Clone me (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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