Crossword Genius

Bring up figure in cooped up animal? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

heighten

'bring up' is the definition.
(heightening is a kind of bringing up)

'figure in cooped up animal?' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'eight' (I've seen this in other clues).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'cooped up animal?' becomes 'hen' (animal kept in a coop).
'eight' going inside 'hen' is 'HEIGHTEN'.

(Other definitions for heighten that I've seen before include "Intensify; make taller" , "Raise" , "Make more intense - elevate?" , "effect some improvement" , "Make more intense, say awareness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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