Crossword Genius

Provide American car to transport female (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

afford

'provide' is the definition.
(I know that afford is a more specific form of the action provide)

'american car to transport female' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'a' (common abbreviation - e.g. in organisation names).
'car' becomes 'ford' (Ford is a make of car).
'to transport' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or transported by others).
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'ford' going around 'f' is 'fford'.
'a'+'fford'='AFFORD'

(Other definitions for afford that I've seen before include "Have the financial means" , "Yield!" , "Provide (an opportunity)" , "Provide; manage to pay for" , "Give, provide" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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