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How the heat can knock one out (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eliminate

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'out' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I can't understand how they can define each other.

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for eliminate that I've seen before include "Completely remove, get rid of" , "Exclude from further stage of competition" , "defeat" , "Take out" , "put out" .)

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