Eggs on a great deal, engulfing the speaker in lots of applause (8)
I believe the answer is:
ovations
'lots of applause' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'eggs on a great deal engulfing the speaker' is the wordplay.
'eggs' becomes 'ova' (term for egg cells).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'a great deal' becomes 'tons' (both can mean a large amount).
'engulfing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the speaker' becomes 'I' ('I' refers to the person saying it).
'tons' enclosing 'i' is 'tions'.
'ova'+'tions'='OVATIONS'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ovations that I've seen before include "Rounds of applause" , "Great outbursts of applause" , "Enthusiastic receptions" , "Bursts of applause, may be given standing" , "tributes" .)