Clap cryptic setter about extremely adroit bit of setting (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
place mat
'bit of setting' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'clap cryptic setter about extremely adroit' is the wordplay.
'cryptic' is an anagram indicator (a cryptic or obscure order of the letters).
'setter' becomes 'me' (the setter of the clue).
'about' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'extremely' suggests removing the centre (only the extremes of the word are used).
'adroit' with its middle taken out is 'at'.
'me' reversed gives 'em'.
'clap' is an anagram of 'plac'.
'plac'+'em'+'at'='PLACE-MAT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for place mat that I've seen before include "Plates go on one" , "China's possible position" , "It's used to protect the table" , "Metal cap (anag.)" , "Table setting" .)