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Split up and put down each row's thematic group (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

disband

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'split up' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'put down each row's thematic group' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'down' could be 'd' and 'd' is found in the answer.
'group' could be 'band' (band can mean a group of people) and 'band' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'is' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for disband that I've seen before include "Dissolve" , "Cease to be a group" , "Break up as a group" , "shed" , "Scatter" .)

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