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Democrat First Lady meeting hacks and pioneers (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

develops

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

'pioneers' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with creating things as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'democrat first lady meeting hacks' is the wordplay.
'democrat' becomes 'd'.
'first lady' becomes 'eve' (Biblical first woman).
'meeting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hacks' becomes 'lops' (I've seen this in another clue).
'd'+'eve'+'lops'='DEVELOPS'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for develops that I've seen before include "Grows or formulates" , "'Evolves, grows (8)'" , "Grows, progresses" , "Evolves or matures" , "Grows, increases or evolves" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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