Copper’s having volume reduced in usual approach (6)
I believe the answer is:
custom
'usual approach' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'copper's having volume reduced' is the wordplay.
'copper's' becomes 'Cu's' (Cu is the chemical symbol for copper).
'having' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'volume' becomes 'tome' (a tome is a large or heavy book).
'reduced' means to remove the last letter.
'tome' with its last letter taken off is 'tom'.
'cus'+'tom'='CUSTOM'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for custom that I've seen before include "Habitual patronage" , "Way of doing things" , "Established usage" , "Accepted or habitual practice" , "Traditional activity or practice" .)