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Some geek full of energy played with ... (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

partnered

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'played with' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with social activities as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'some geek full of energy' is the wordplay.
'some' becomes 'part' (**).
'geek' becomes 'nerd' (I've seen this before).
'full of' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'energy' becomes 'e' (physics symbol as in E=mca).
'nerd' enclosing 'e' is 'nered'.
'part'+'nered'='PARTNERED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for partnered that I've seen is " support".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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