The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word OPTICS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
O
P
T
I
C
S
More clues leading to the result OPTICS
- Sudden movement in operations to make lenses
- Scientific study, to which landlords raise their glasses
- Science of drinks dispensers
- Make a choice: revolutionary science, visual science
- Light science work by jerks
- Regulators behind bars providing scientific study
- Measures spasms appearing after operation
- Quantifiers of liquid science
- Expresses preference to include one conservative branch of physics
- Measures eyes
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Regulators behind bars/scientific study" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case regulators behind bars/scientific study = optics.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 OPTICS mean?
OPTICS noun- The physics of light and vision.
- The light-related aspects of a device.
- Perception, image, public relations.
- An eye.
- A lens or other part of an optical instrument that interacts with light.
- A measuring device with a small window, attached to an upside-down bottle, used to dispense alcoholic drinks in a bar.