The truth about a trainee (4)
I believe the answer is:
real
'the truth' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'about a trainee' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 'rea' (I've seen this in other clues).
'a trainee' becomes 'l' (as in an L-plate for a learner driver).
'rea'+'l'='REAL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for real that I've seen before include "Existing, not imaginery" , "Actual, existing" , "Actual, not illusory" , "Lear, strangely, could actually exist" , "'Genuine, actual (4)'" .)