The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word VERB
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
V
E
R
B
More clues leading to the result VERB
- Win or lose, perhaps, it’s some clever betting
- British minister turning up for part of speech
- Sort of word used by clever bloke
- Part of speech penned by Beaverbrook
- 14 describing action concealed by clever boy
- However, being locked in is part of sentence
- For example, steal lover boy’s heart
- Reverberate, for example, but not much
- Maybe plot against Belgium? Without hesitation!
- What’s taught in Grammar class?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Sort of word" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case sort of word = verb.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 VERB mean?
VERB noun- (grammar) A word that indicates an action, event, or state.
- Any word; a vocable.
- An action as opposed to a trait or thing.
- A named command that performs a specific operation on an object.
- To use any word that is not, or had not been a verb (especially a noun) as if it were a verb.
- (used as a neutral, unspecific verb) To perform any action that is normally expressed by a verb.