Water group drying up (7)
I believe the answer is:
searing
'drying up' is the definition.
'water group' is the wordplay.
'water' becomes 'sea' (sea is a kind of water).
'group' becomes 'ring'.
'sea'+'ring'='SEARING'
(Other definitions for searing that I've seen before include "An aromatic liquid; aumbry (anag.)" , "Scorching" .)
I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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