Crossword Genius

Have a meal of pulse after missing starter (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eat

'have a meal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'pulse after missing starter' is the wordplay.
'pulse' becomes 'be at' (synonyms).
'after missing starter' means to remove the first letter.
'beat' with its initial letter taken away is 'EAT'.

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for eat that I've seen before include "Scoff" , "Do cats - bats? Do bats - cats? (Alice in Wonderland)" , "Devour" , "get stuck in" , "tolerate in diet" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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