The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word WARP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
W
A
R
P
More clues leading to the result WARP
- Fighting pressure, buckle
- Twist fighting power
- Misinterpret return of crude power
- Distortion? This roof is able to withstand onset
- Battle plan’s beginning to buckle
- Fighting power that’s corrupt
- Corrupt in power after violent struggle
- Twist longitudinal weaving yarn
- Buckle quietly after fighting
- Get bent with Dada artist
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "corrupt" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case corrupt = warp.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 WARP mean?
WARP noun- The state, quality, or condition of being twisted, physically or mentally:
- A distortion:
- The threads that run lengthwise in a woven fabric; crossed by the woof or weft.
- The foundation, the basis, the undergirding.
- A line or cable or rode as is used in warping (mooring or hauling) a ship, and sometimes for other purposes such as deploying a seine or creating drag.
- A theoretical construct that permits travel across a medium without passing through it normally, such as a teleporter or time warp.
- A situation or place which is or seems to be from another era; a time warp.
- The sediment which subsides from turbid water; the alluvial deposit of muddy water artificially introduced into low lands in order to enrich or fertilise them.
- (obsolete outside dialectal) A throw or cast, as of fish (in which case it is used as a unit of measure: about four fish, though sometimes three or even two), oysters, etc.
- To twist or become twisted, physically or mentally:
- (ropemaking) To run (yarn) off the reel into hauls to be tarred.
- To arrange (strands of thread, etc) so that they run lengthwise in weaving.
- To plot; to fabricate or weave (a plot or scheme).
- To change or fix (make fixed, for example by freezing).
- To move:
- (obsolete outside dialectal, of an animal) To bring forth (young) prematurely.
- To fertilize (low-lying land) by letting the tide, a river, or other water in upon it to deposit silt and alluvial matter.
- (very rare) To throw.