Breaks off in the middle of nonsense verse (6)
I believe the answer is:
severs
'breaks off' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'in the middle of nonsense verse' is the wordplay.
'in the middle of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'SEVERS' can be found hidden inside 'nonsense verse'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for severs that I've seen before include "Cuts or terminates" , "Parts" , "Cut off from a whole" , "Cuts or breaks off" , "splits" .)