A tot, for instance, or the mum or dad (10)
I believe the answer is:
palindrome
'mum or dad' is the definition.
('mum' and 'dad' are palindromes)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for palindrome that I've seen before include "Word reading same forwards and back" , "Mum, say" , "Mum, Dad or Sis" , ""Mr Owl ate my metal worm", for example" , "Word as kayak, refer" .)