A thousand odd times is a lot (6)
I believe the answer is:
kismet
'lot' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a thousand odd times' is the wordplay.
'a thousand' becomes 'K' (K can mean thousand, e.g. 10k).
'odd' indicates an anagram.
'times' anagrammed gives 'ismet'.
'k'+'ismet'='KISMET'
'is a' is the link.
(Other definitions for kismet that I've seen before include "lot in life" , "fortune" , "Turkish fate, destiny" , "Broadway musical" , "Destiny; 50s musical" .)