Crossword Genius

Where, being in a state, to get cross when meals are interrupted (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

texas

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'where being in a state to' is the definition.
The answer is a location as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

'cross when meals are interrupted' is the wordplay.
'cross' becomes 'T' (shape).
'when' becomes 'as' (eg 'when I walked' means 'as I walked').
'meals are' becomes 'ex' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'interrupted' is an insertion indicator.
't'+'as'='tas'
'tas' enclosing 'ex' is 'TEXAS'.

'get' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for texas that I've seen before include "Large US state" , "28th US state" , "Southern US state" , "America's Lone Star State" , "Second-largest US state by area" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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