Crossword Genius

What holds cooking oil, very European? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

olive

'what holds' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'cooking oil very european?' is the wordplay.
'cooking' indicates anagramming the letters (cook can mean to falsify or distort).
'very' becomes 'v' (abbreviation).
'european?' becomes 'e' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'oil'+'v'='oilv'
'oilv' anagrammed gives 'oliv'.
'oliv'+'e'='OLIVE'

(Other definitions for olive that I've seen before include "Its branch is a peace emblem" , "shades of green" , "Tree - shade of green" , "Fruit giving oil" , "Oily stone fruit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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