The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word PLANT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
P
L
A
N
T
More clues leading to the result PLANT
- Source of cutting gear and machinery
- Scheme that initially works.
- Design, over time, machinery
- Mean temperature found
- Organise time in factory
- Agent works to introduce growth
- Space traveller lacks a bit of essential equipment
- One working as a decoy in factory
- Perhaps the 20th strategy works
- Hide conspiracy, heading for trial
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "One working as a decoy/factory" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case one working as a decoy/factory = plant.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 PLANT mean?
PLANT noun- An organism that is not an animal, especially an organism capable of photosynthesis. Typically a small or herbaceous organism of this kind, rather than a tree.
- An organism of the kingdom Plantae; now specifically, a living organism of the Embryophyta (land plants) or of the Chlorophyta (green algae), a eukaryote that includes double-membraned chloroplasts in its cells containing chlorophyll a and b, or any organism closely related to such an organism.
- Now specifically, a multicellular eukaryote that includes chloroplasts in its cells, which have a cell wall.
- Any creature that grows on soil or similar surfaces, including plants and fungi.
- A factory or other industrial or institutional building or facility.
- An object placed surreptitiously in order to cause suspicion to fall upon a person.
- Anyone assigned to behave as a member of the public during a covert operation (as in a police investigation).
- A person, placed amongst an audience, whose role is to cause confusion, laughter etc.
- A play in which the cue ball knocks one (usually red) ball onto another, in order to pot the second; a set.
- Machinery, such as the kind used in earthmoving or construction.
- A young tree; a sapling; hence, a stick or staff.
- The sole of the foot.
- A plan; a swindle; a trick.
- An oyster which has been bedded, in distinction from one of natural growth.
- A young oyster suitable for transplanting.
- To place (a seed or plant) in soil or other substrate in order that it may live and grow.
- To place (an object, or sometimes a person), often with the implication of intending deceit.
- To place or set something firmly or with conviction.
- To place in the ground.
- To furnish or supply with plants.
- To engender; to generate; to set the germ of.
- To furnish with a fixed and organized population; to settle; to establish.
- To introduce and establish the principles or seeds of.
- To set up; to install; to instate.