Apprentice cut out to help in motor manufacture (4)
I believe the answer is:
axle
'help in motor manufacture' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'apprentice cut out' is the wordplay.
'apprentice' becomes 'L' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'cut' becomes 'axe' (I've seen this before).
'out' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'l' inserted inside 'axe' is 'AXLE'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for axle that I've seen before include "Rod supporting wheels" , "Rotating rod carrying wheels" , "Metal pin on which wheel revolves" , "Rod to carry a wheel" , "wheel section" .)