Cut into rope that can be torn apart by teeth? (8)
I believe the answer is:
chewable
'cut into rope that can be torn apart by teeth?' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'cut into rope' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'hew' (hew can mean to chop or cut).
'into' indicates putting letters inside.
'rope' becomes 'cable' (cable is a kind of rope).
'hew' placed inside 'cable' is 'CHEWABLE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chewable that I've seen before include "easy to eat" , "Able to be masticated" .)