Cryptic crossword clue
Part of the 10, like that cushioning a blow 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word THALAMUS

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Part of the 10" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case part of the 10 = thalamus.
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 THALAMUS mean?

THALAMUS noun
  1. Either of two large, ovoid structures of grey matter within the forebrain that relay sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex.
  2. The receptacle of a flower; a torus.
  3. A thallus.
  4. An inner room or nuptial chamber.

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