The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word AEROPLANE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
A
E
R
O
P
L
A
N
E
More clues leading to the result AEROPLANE
- Say A380 flying near a Pole
- Originally advising extensive repair work on road in Lancaster?
- A loan peer arranged, one moving up?
- One taking off, or opening up, in a way
- Tornado perhaps, spinning hole in a way
- Flyer for street opera out first
- Open a real easy crate?
- Rope knotted, in a way, for crate?
- Type of craft pint, way behind bar
- A leopard nearly injured one loveless jumbo?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "crate" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case crate = aeroplane.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 AEROPLANE mean?
AEROPLANE noun- A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings.
- An airfoil.
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies, of various genera, having a slow gliding flight. Also called planes.
- To fly in an aeroplane.
- To transport by aeroplane.