Deprecates applications for admission (6)
I believe the answer is:
knocks
'deprecates' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how they can define each other.
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for knocks that I've seen before include "Strikes with a sharp blow or finds fault with" , "Bangs on door" , "You get bad experiences in the school of hard ..." , "Hits" , "Raps, taps" .)