Crossword Genius

Shy about learner working in group (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

colony

'group' is the definition.
(eg a group of ants)

'shy about learner working' is the wordplay.
'shy' becomes 'coy' (coy can mean shy or modest).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'working' becomes 'on' (on can mean working or activated).
'l'+'on'='lon'
'coy' enclosing 'lon' is 'COLONY'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for colony that I've seen before include "Country under the political control of another and occupied by settlers" , "Community" , "Settler's territory" , "Country controlled by another's settlers" , "sort of territory" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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