The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SALTPAN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
A
L
T
P
A
N
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The straight part
We know that "dried up basin" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case dried up basin = saltpan.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 SALTPAN mean?
SALTPAN noun- A dry lake or playa whose level bed contains abundant salt.
- A man-made pond where salty water is evaporated to recover salt and/or other minerals.