Be innovative, but make a big to-do about it (6)
I believe the answer is:
create
'be' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'innovative but make a big to-do about it' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is present in the answer.
'about' could be 're' (common abbreviation for 'with reference to') and 're' is located in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for create that I've seen before include "make a scene" , "Produce from nothing" , "Design" , "Manufacture, bring into being" , "Concoct" .)