Finding this gemstone requires patience (9)

I believe the answer is:

solitaire

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

'patience' is the definition.
(I know that patience can be written as solitaire)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for solitaire that I've seen before include "recluse" , "Patience; diamond" , "Diamond; game for one" , "Card game for one player" , "One-gem ring; one-player game" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.

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