The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word BASTE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
B
A
S
T
E
More clues leading to the result BASTE
- At first, bearings are seized tightly enough. Pour oil on
- Tack in prison, badly defective
- Foul eating starter of turkey, cover meat with fat
- Apply loose stitching to clobber
- HQ quashing end of wildcat strike
- Mean to cover last of roast to make it moist
- Add liquid while cooking low, maintaining temperature
- Soundly sited to keep moist
- Moisten food‘s main ingredient retaining temperature
- No recipe for roast breast should make you ‘drizzle with jus’!
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Apply loose stitching to" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case apply loose stitching to = baste.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BASTE mean?
BASTE verb- To sew with long or loose stitches, as for temporary use, or in preparation for gathering the fabric.
- A basting; a sprinkling of drippings etc. in cooking.
- To sprinkle flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on meat in roasting.
- (by extension) To coat over something.
- To mark (sheep, etc.) with tar.
- To beat with a stick; to cudgel.