Crossword Genius

Winds reel back (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

loops

'winds' is the definition.
(looping is a kind of winding)

'reel back' is the wordplay.
'reel' becomes 'spool' ('spool' can be a synonym of 'reel').
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'spool' reversed gives 'LOOPS'.

(Other definitions for loops that I've seen before include "Twists" , "Oval-shaped single coils, in a piece of thread perhaps" , "Winds" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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