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"core" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often foundational (12 letters).
Definitions
remove the core or center from
Word origin
From Biblical Hebrew כֹּר (kōr).
Used in a sentence
“the core of an apple or quince”
“the core of the square”
“the core of a subject”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer2 curated clues
01“Inner center”4 letters
02“Center part”4 letters
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