Crossword Genius

Ring tree to express a view? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

opine

'express a view?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'ring tree' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'o' (letter resembling a ring).
'tree' becomes 'pine' (pine is a kind of tree).
'o'+'pine'='OPINE'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for opine that I've seen before include "Suppose" , "Express or hold view" , "judge" , "Conjecture" , "Say what one thinks" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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