Crossword Genius

Help to preserve mass transport in thriving area (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

boom town

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

'thriving area' is the definition.
'boom town' can be an answer for 'area' (boom town is a kind of area). I am unsure of the 'thriving' bit.

'help to preserve mass transport' is the wordplay.
'help' becomes 'boon' (a boon is a help or benefit).
'to preserve' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'mass' becomes 'm' (symbol used in Physics e.g. f=ma).
'transport' becomes 'tow' (to tow something is to transport it).
'm'+'tow'='mtow'
'boon' placed around 'mtow' is 'BOOM TOWN'.

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for boom town that I've seen before include "Urban area of rapid growth" , "Municipality enjoying sudden prosperity" , "Prosperous place" , "Place of sudden prosperity" , "Settlement enjoying sudden prosperity" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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