Close friend with one imposing pad (6)
I believe the answer is:
palace
'imposing pad' 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?
'close friend with one' is the wordplay.
'close friend' becomes 'pal' (I've seen this before).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'one' becomes 'ace' (ace has a value of one in some card games).
'pal'+'ace'='PALACE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for palace that I've seen before include "football team" , "Locality round a monarch's official residence" , "See 23" , "Royal dwelling" , "Royal residence" .)