A charge or payment? (5)
I believe the answer is:
award
'payment?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'a charge' is the wordplay.
'charge' becomes 'ward' (both can mean a child in one's care).
'a'+'ward'='AWARD'
'or' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for award that I've seen before include "Honour, accolade." , "Judicial decision" , "Prize or other mark of recognition" , "They are disinclined to work" , "Gong (informal)" .)