A little cyclist pedalled around showing proficiency (5)
I believe the answer is:
adept
'proficiency' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'a little cyclist pedalled around' is the wordplay.
'a little' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (a little bit of the clue).
'around' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'tpeda' is hidden in the letters of 'cyclist pedalled'.
'tpeda' back-to-front is 'ADEPT'.
'showing' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for adept that I've seen before include "One very skilled at work" , "Highly proficient" , "Very skilled person" , "capable" , "who gets the lapis philosophicus secret" .)