What the ayes are (3)
I believe the answer is:
for
'are' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for for that I've seen before include "Approving" , "and 16 and 20: Notwithstanding" , "On behalf of" , "On the side of" , "In support of" .)