Breaks of service, shall we say? (6)
I believe the answer is:
leaves
'breaks' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leaves that I've seen before include "Pour hot fat over (meat)" , "Departs or bequeaths" , "Departs with what fall in the Fall" , "Departs with tree growths" , "Abandons" .)