The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word ENVIRON
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
N
V
I
R
O
N
More clues leading to the result ENVIRON
Buddy explains!
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 ENVIRON mean?
ENVIRON noun- (especially in plural) A surrounding area
- To surround; to encircle.