Dignified base of monument - damage just around that (8)
I believe the answer is:
matronly
'dignified base of monument' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs sometimes mean the same thing.
'damage just around that' is the wordplay.
'damage' becomes 'mar' (to mar is to spoil or damage).
'just' becomes 'only' (synonyms).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'that' becomes 't' (this could be a standard abbreviation which I don't know about).
'mar'+'only'='maronly'
'maronly' placed around 't' is 'MATRONLY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for matronly that I've seen before include "staid and podgy?" , "Like or suitable for staid married woman" , "like mum!" , "Like a dignified or staid woman" , "staid and plumpish" .)