Absurd article describing new instrument (8)
I believe the answer is:
clarinet
'instrument' is the definition.
(I know that Clarinet is a type of woodwind instrument)
'absurd article describing new' is the wordplay.
'absurd' is an anagram indicator.
'describing' is an insertion indicator (describe can mean to form the outline of).
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'article' with letters rearranged gives 'clariet'.
'clariet' going around 'n' is 'CLARINET'.
(Other definitions for clarinet that I've seen before include "It's for playing" , "Single-reed straight-tubed instrument" , "Music maker" , "Source of music" , "Wind instrument made from Clare tin" .)