Cut tree tops at the entrance by court appointment, in the poetic sense (8)
I believe the answer is:
laureate
'court appointment in the poetic sense' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'cut tree tops at the entrance' is the wordplay.
'cut tree' becomes 'laure' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'tops' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'at the entrance' is 'ate'.
'laure'+'ate'='LAUREATE'
'by' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for laureate that I've seen before include "Person honoured for great achievements" , "Nobel winner" , "Acclaimed pacifist" , "one given wreath" , "National poet" .)