Particular probe gutted by copper taking on unreliable source (8)
I believe the answer is:
peculiar
'particular' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'probe gutted by copper taking on unreliable source' is the wordplay.
'gutted' suggests removing the centre (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'by copper' becomes 'cu' (Cu is the chemical symbol for copper. I am not sure about the 'by' bit.).
'taking on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'unreliable source' becomes 'liar' (I've seen this in another clue).
'probe' with its centre removed is 'pe'.
'pe'+'cu'+'liar'='PECULIAR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for peculiar that I've seen before include "Extraordinary" , "Odd - individual" , "Strange or eccentric, quite odd" , "Strange, different from the norm" , "sick" .)