Crossword Genius

3 characters reflected in strange TikToks (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

kite

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'3' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'characters reflected in strange tiktoks' is the wordplay.
'reflected' is a reversal indicator (letters reflected back).
'characters' indicates a hidden word (some letters or characters from the clue).
'etik' can be found hidden inside 'in strange tiktoks'.
'etik' back-to-front is 'KITE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for kite that I've seen before include "Kind of toy flown on string" , "It's flown in the wind at the end of a string" , "Wind-borne toy" , "Flying toy; a quality mark" , "Bird of prey - light, wind-borne structure" .)

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