The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word RELEASE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
R
E
L
E
A
S
E
More clues leading to the result RESCUE
- Show regret about escape and liberation
- Recover key in Calais street?
- Salvage short snooker implement and a different snooker implement
- Right key starts to unlock everything – salvation!
- Save energy with curse undone
- When backing up, user initially neglected prompt to save
- After short pause, signal recovery
- Deliver fresh heart ahead of signal to act
- Salvage two items from the Crucible, wasting time
- Secure unstable salvage
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Free/delivery" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case free/delivery = rescue.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 RELEASE mean?
RELEASE noun- The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
- The distribution of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product; the distribution can be either public or private.
- Anything recently released or made available (as for sale).
- That which is released, untied or let go.
- The giving up of a claim, especially a debt.
- Liberation from pain or suffering.
- The process by which a chemical substance is set free.
- (sound synthesis) The act or manner of ending a sound.
- In the block system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
- A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
- To let go (of); to cease to hold or contain.
- To make available to the public.
- To free or liberate; to set free.
- To discharge.
- (of a call) To hang up.
- To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.
- To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of.
- To set up; to provide with a goal-scoring opportunity
- To set free a chemical substance.
- To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.