Crossword Genius

Depressions are closely compacted, it’s said (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dents

'depressions' is the definition.
(dent is a kind of depression)

'closely compacted it's said' is the wordplay.
'closely compacted' becomes 'dense' (I've seen this before).
'it's said' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'dense' is a homophone of 'DENTS'.

'are' is the link.

(Other definitions for dents that I've seen before include "reductions in size" , "Tends towards small depressions" , "Tends to create small depressions" , "Tends towards small depression" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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