Time to take a different line, heading off predator (7)

I believe the answer is:

tigress

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'predator' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tigress that I've seen before include "Wild cat (female)" , "Large female cat" , "Wild animal" , "A beastly female" , "Fierce female" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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