US port in a state of inactivity (6)
I believe the answer is:
stupor
'inactivity' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'us port in a state' is the wordplay.
'in a state' indicates an anagram (the letters in confusion or chaos).
'us'+'port'='usport'
'usport' is an anagram of 'STUPOR'.
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stupor that I've seen before include "Insensible state" , "State of being dazed or numb" , "Daze or torpor" , "numbness" , "State of bewilderment" .)