Chief pride of lions, did you say? (4)
I believe the answer is:
main
'chief' is the definition.
('main' can be a synonym of 'chief')
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for main that I've seen before include "Chief, primary" , "Most important or greatest in size" , "associated with the Spanish?" , "Foremost" , "Ocean or principal pipe" .)