Cryptic crossword clue
Metallic element, essential component of dustbins 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TERBIUM

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
E
R
B
I
U
M

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Metallic element" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case metallic element = terbium.
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 TERBIUM mean?

TERBIUM noun
  1. A metallic chemical element (symbol Tb) with an atomic number of 65: a soft, silvery-white, rare earth metal that is malleable and ductile.

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