Crossword Genius

Dry and stony hill area (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sector

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

'area' is the definition.
(I know that area can be written as sector)

'dry and stony hill' is the wordplay.
'dry' becomes 'sec' (similar in meaning).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'stony hill' becomes 'tor' (tor is a kind of hill. I am not sure about the 'stony' bit.).
'sec'+'tor'='SECTOR'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sector that I've seen before include "Distinct part of an economy; area for military operations" , "District" , "Division of a nation's economy" , "Area, division" , "Division or part" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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