Bond without top produces excitement (7)
I believe the answer is:
elation
'excitement' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'bond without top' is the wordplay.
'bond' becomes 'relation' (bond can mean a relation or connection).
'without top' means to remove the first letter.
'relation' with its first letter taken off is 'ELATION'.
'produces' is the link.
(Other definitions for elation that I've seen before include "Feeling of delight, joy" , "Exaltation" , "Bliss" , "Feeling of joy for it alone" , "exhibits successful pride" .)