The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word LAPPING
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result LAPPING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "passing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case passing = lapping.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 LAPPING mean?
LAPPING verb- To enfold; to hold as in one's lap; to cherish.
- To rest or recline in a lap, or as in a lap.
- To fold; to bend and lay over or on something.
- To wrap around, enwrap, wrap up
- To envelop, enfold
- To wind around
- To place or lay (one thing) so as to overlap another.
- To polish, e.g., a surface, until smooth.
- To be turned or folded; to lie partly on or over something; to overlap.
- To overtake a straggler in a race by completing one more whole lap than the straggler.
- To cut or polish with a lap, as glass, gems, cutlery, etc.
- To take (liquid) into the mouth with the tongue; to lick up with a quick motion of the tongue.
- (of water) To wash against a surface with a splashing sound; to swash.
- A kind of machine blanket or wrapping material used by calico printers.
- (bowmaking) Lengths of fine wire, silver, gold, silk or whalebone wrapped tightly around the bow stick adjacent to the leather part of the bow grip at the heel of the bow.
- The process of forming a lap or fleece of fibrous material for the carding-machine.
- The rubbing or polishing of a metal surface.
- The process of rubbing away the lands, or metal between the grooves of a rifled gun, to increase the bore.