Electronic snag besets sophisticated scientific equipment (2-4)
I believe the answer is:
hi-tech
'sophisticated scientific equipment' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, past participle verbs and adjectives occasionally mean the same thing.
'electronic snag besets' is the wordplay.
'electronic' becomes 'e' (as in e-mail or e-books).
'snag' becomes 'hitch' (synonyms).
'besets' indicates putting letters inside (beset can mean to surround).
'e' put into 'hitch' is 'HI-TECH'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hi-tech that I've seen before include "Involving the latest electronic gadgetry" , "Style of interior design using features of industrial equipment" , "Electronically advanced" , "Using the latest science" , "Using modern construction" .)