Encouragement to speak with charm, wasting time (3)
I believe the answer is:
cue
'encouragement' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cue that I've seen before include "Actor's line to remind another" , "A snooker ball striker" , "Actor's signal" , "Snooker rod" , "Billiards stick" .)