Crossword Genius

Surgeon's worried, squeezing opening of cut with sponge (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scrounge

'sponge' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'surgeon's worried squeezing opening of cut' is the wordplay.
'worried' indicates an anagram.
'squeezing' is an insertion indicator (squeeze can mean hug or embrace).
'opening of' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'cut' is 'c'.
'surgeon' anagrammed gives 'srounge'.
'srounge' enclosing 'c' is 'SCROUNGE'.

'with' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for scrounge that I've seen before include "Cadge, sponge" , "Seek something free from others" , "'Cadge, wheedle (8)'" , "Cadge, beg" , "Freeload" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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