A measure of heat generated by academic success? (7)
I believe the answer is:
degrees
'heat generated by academic success?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'a measure' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'measure' could be 's' (S is an example) and 's' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'degree' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for degrees that I've seen before include "Educational qualifications" , "distinctions that are academic" , "Units for angles" , "Academic qualifications" , "Revolutionary measures" .)