Crossword Genius

Nothing divides the lines – that's the idea (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

theory

'the idea' is the definition.
(theory is a kind of idea)

'nothing divides the lines' is the wordplay.
'nothing' becomes 'o' (looks like zero - 0).
'divides' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'lines' becomes 'ry' (abbreviation for railway).
'the'+'ry'='thery'
'o' going into 'thery' is 'THEORY'.

'that's' is the link.

(Other definitions for theory that I've seen before include "Ideal situation" , "Conjecture, hypothesis" , "Speculative view" , "Idea for testing" , "General principles of a subject" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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