Crossword Genius

Hard work putting out new pattern (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

grid

'pattern' is the definition.

'hard work putting out new' is the wordplay.
'hard work' becomes 'grind' (I've seen this before).
'putting out' suggests deleting specific letters.
'new' becomes 'n'.
'grind' with 'n' removed is 'GRID'.

(Other definitions for grid that I've seen before include "Network of horizontal and vertical lines" , "puzzle diagram" , "Map reference system" , "Matrix" , "powerful network" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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