Delicate newspaper has smooth cover (7)
I believe the answer is:
fragile
'delicate' is the definition.
('fragile' can be a synonym of 'delicate')
'newspaper has smooth cover' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'newspaper' could be 'rag' (rag is a kind of newspaper) and 'rag' is found within the answer.
'smooth' could be 'file' (filing is a kind of smoothing) and 'file' is found within the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fragile that I've seen before include "Liable to break easily" , "Not robust" , "Breakable" , "Delicate, tenuous" , "Delicate; easily broken" .)