Car lot nun destroyed, operating at night (9)
I believe the answer is:
nocturnal
'at night' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'car lot nun destroyed' is the wordplay.
'destroyed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'car'+'lot'+'nun'='carlotnun'
'carlotnun' with letters rearranged gives 'NOCTURNAL'.
'operating' is the link.
This may not be right. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nocturnal that I've seen before include "shunning the light" , "Like owls and badgers" , "Night-time" , "happening at night" , "Active at night" .)