Elite group (5)
(Other definitions for a-list that I've seen before include "Top celebrity group" , "Most celebrated people" , "of the best sort" , "Acclaimed" , "Very famous" .)
'elite group?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'elite group?' is the wordplay.
'elite' becomes 'inner' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'group?' becomes 'circle' (I've seen this in other clues).
'inner'+'circle'='INNER CIRCLE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inner circle that I've seen before include "Exclusive group" , "Privileged group" .)
'elite' is the definition.
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alist that I've seen before include "Names of sought-after people are on it" , "Top celebrities" , "Most famous celebrities" .)
I believe this is a double definition.
'elite' is the first definition.
(as in the cream of the crop)
'group' is the second definition.
The answer is an example.
(Other definitions for cream that I've seen before include "'There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with ....." , "Elite; off-white" , "Fat-rich part of milk" , "An off-white shade" , "Elite; pale yellow" .)