Around one, it's going to tell you the meal is ready (4)
I believe the answer is:
gong
'tell you the meal is ready' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'around one it's going' is the wordplay.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'one it's' becomes 'gg' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'going' becomes 'on' (both can mean functioning or activated).
'gg' placed around 'on' is 'GONG'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gong that I've seen before include "Dinner call - medal" , "Sound announcing meal" , "Round metal plate struck to resound" , "Dinner chime or slangy medal" , "Medal; forty down" .)