Can it go on spreading? (9)
I believe the answer is:
contagion
'can it go on spreading?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'can it go on spreading?' is the wordplay.
'spreading?' indicates anagramming the letters.
'can'+'it'+'go'+'on'='canitgoon'
'canitgoon' is an anagram of 'CONTAGION'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for contagion that I've seen before include "Infection" , "Cognation (anag.)" , "Communication of disease by close contact" , "cause of widespread ill-feeling" .)