Acknowledges the trick on companies (8)
I believe the answer is:
confirms
'acknowledges' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'trick on companies' is the wordplay.
'trick' becomes 'con' (a con is a fraud or trick).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'companies' becomes 'firms' (I've seen this in another clue).
'con'+'firms'='CONFIRMS'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for confirms that I've seen before include "Supports the truth of something" , "Finalises or makes definite" , "Corroborates" , "Provides supporting evidence of the truth" , "Provides support for the truth of" .)