Colourful arrays of Bond baddies very nearly dead just before the end (7)
I believe the answer is:
spectra
'colourful arrays' is the definition.
'spectra' can be an answer for 'arrays' (spectrum is a kind of array). I'm not sure about the 'colourful' bit.
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spectra that I've seen before include "Ranges of light wavelengths" , "After-images" , "Whole ranges" , "Bands of coloured light" , "Characteristic series of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation substances emit" .)