Cinematic illusions in various places retaining one property (7,7)
I believe the answer is:
special effects
'cinematic illusions' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'various places retaining one property' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'one' could be 'i' (Roman numeral) and 'i' is found in the answer.
an anagram of 'places' is 'specal' which is located in the remaining letters.
'property' could be 'effects' (effects is a kind of property) and 'effects' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for special effects that I've seen before include "things put together after shooting" , "magic of the cinema!" , "tricks used in picture-making" .)