Cheer-leader embraced and puffed along (7)
I believe the answer is:
chugged
'puffed along' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'cheer-leader embraced' is the wordplay.
'leader' suggests taking the first letters.
'embraced' becomes 'hugged' ('hug' can be a synonym of 'embrace').
The first letter of 'cheer' is 'c'.
'c'+'hugged'='CHUGGED'
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chugged that I've seen before include "made repeated noises" , "Collected donations for charity by stopping people in public" , "Drank a lot" .)