Cryptic crossword clue
Surgeon’s first working rule: man, I like the aortic valve! 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SEMILUNAR

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

The straight part
We know that "like the aortic valve" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case like the aortic valve = semilunar.
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 SEMILUNAR mean?

SEMILUNAR noun
  1. The lunate bone, or semilunar bone.
SEMILUNAR adjective
  1. Shaped like a half-moon; crescent-shaped.

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