Early on, rug's clean around the edge (9)
I believe the answer is:
premature
'early' is the definition.
('premature' can be similar in meaning to 'early')
'on rug's clean around the edge' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'on' could be 're' ('on' can be mean 'with reference to') and 're' is found in the answer.
'rug' could be 'mat' (I've seen this before) and 'mat' is found in the answer.
'clean' could be 'pure' ('pure' can be similar in meaning to 'clean') and 'pure' is found within the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for premature that I've seen before include "Over-hasty" , "not fully developed" , "Untimely" , "Born before full term" , "Too soon or too hasty" .)