Crossword Genius

Weird beige colour coating floating mass (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

iceberg

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'weird beige colour' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'coating floating mass' is the wordplay.
'coating' becomes 'ice' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'floating mass' becomes 'berg' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ice'+'berg'='ICEBERG'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for iceberg that I've seen before include "Polar shipping hazard" , "One with a cold manner" , "Huge mass of frozen water" , "last scene of Titanic" , "(Frozen?) type of lettuce" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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