The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LIGHTING
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result LIGHTING
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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 LIGHTING mean?
LIGHTING verb- To start (a fire).
- To set fire to; to set burning.
- To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.
- To become ignited; to take fire.
- To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
- To make (a bonus) available to be collected by hitting a target, and thus light up the feature light corresponding to that bonus to indicate its availability.
- To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter
- To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.
- To find by chance.
- To stop upon (of eyes or a glance); to notice
- To alight; to land or come down.
- The equipment used to provide illumination; the illumination so provided.
- The act of activating such equipment, or of igniting a flame etc.
- The process of annealing metals.