Dread conflict, ringing redhead (6)
I believe the answer is:
fright
'dread' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'conflict ringing redhead' is the wordplay.
'conflict' becomes 'fight' (fight is a kind of conflict).
'ringing' is an insertion indicator.
'redhead' becomes 'r' (the head/first letter of 'red').
'fight' placed around 'r' is 'FRIGHT'.
(Other definitions for fright that I've seen before include "Grotesque" , "Start" , "Panic" , "A scare or shock" , "Horror" .)