The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word STRONTIUM
S
T
R
O
N
T
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M
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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.
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What does STRONTIUM mean?
STRONTIUM noun- The metallic chemical element (symbol Sr) with an atomic number of 38. It is a soft, reactive, silvery alkaline earth metal.
- A single atom of this element.