Dry in next to no time (3)
I believe the answer is:
sec
'dry' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sec that I've seen before include "21 down, as wine" , "Dry, like wine" , "Mo or min?" , "Religious group." , "very short space of time" .)