Coaster, perhaps, with part of the mast missing (3)
I believe the answer is:
mat
'coaster' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'with part of the mast missing' is the wordplay.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'part of' indicates taking the first letters (I've seen 'part' mean this).
'missing' becomes 'at' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
The first letter of 'mast' is 'm'.
'm' put next to 'at' is 'MAT'.
'perhaps' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mat that I've seen before include "Shoe-cleaner" , "Rug; without a shine" , "Foot-wiper on which welcome may be kept" , "Piece of material for wiping feet on" , "Dull, rug" .)