The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CALLIOPE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
A
L
L
I
O
P
E
More clues leading to the result CALLIOPE
- Muse over bad rockets in Canaveral?
- Brand ten exercises for a female “inspiring”
- Manage to hold everything together with current steam organ
- Name that is inspiring work of art?
- Name minor poet oddly dismissed?
- Name that is inspiring work?
- Phone one poet briefly about who inspired them?
- Manage to include everybody and one could be an inspiration for poets
- Completely with one featuring in Carry On Muse
- The sum I manage without keyboard
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a female “inspiring”" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a female “inspiring” = calliope.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 CALLIOPE mean?
CALLIOPE noun- A musical organ, consisting of steam whistles played with a keyboard. Often used with merry-go-rounds.