Walk away from barren place (6)

I believe the answer is:

desert

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'place' is the definition.
(I have seen 'desolate place' mean 'desert' so perhaps 'place' could also mean 'desert')

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for desert that I've seen before include "Merit < leave" , "See 1" , "Leave behind - waste" , "sands" , "Defect, forsake" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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