Considering slim monarch (8)
I believe the answer is:
thinking
'considering' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being present participle verbs.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'slim monarch' is the wordplay.
'slim' becomes 'thin' (similar in meaning).
'monarch' becomes 'king' (king is a kind of monarch).
'thin'+'king'='THINKING'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for thinking that I've seen before include "Pondering" , "Considering in the mind" , "Thought" , "Reasoning in the mind" , "Take" .)