Bird getting behind ape in admiration (7)
I believe the answer is:
emulate
'ape in admiration' is the definition.
'emulate' can be an answer for 'ape' (ape can mean to imitate or emulate). I'm unsure of the 'in admiration' bit.
'bird getting behind' is the wordplay.
'bird' becomes 'emu' (emu is a type of bird).
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'behind' becomes 'late' (as in behind schedule).
'emu'+'late'='EMULATE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for emulate that I've seen before include "Follow suit" , "Try to equal or excel" , "Try to do as well as, follow example" , "Try to equal (object of admiration)" , "Follow in the footsteps of" .)