Copy recording, deleting first item (3)
I believe the answer is:
ape
'copy' is the definition.
(ape can mean to copy or imitate)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ape that I've seen before include "Primate resembling a human" , "drill" , "Take off" , "Parrot" , "Imitate like primate" .)