Strain to convey one's admiration to (8)
I believe the answer is:
serenade
'strain' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for serenade that I've seen before include "Murder" , "Suitor's song" , "Lover's song" , "Piece sung beneath beloved's window" , "Song sung by suitor" .)