Encourage around course (4)
I believe the answer is:
clap
'encourage' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'around course' is the wordplay.
'around' becomes 'c' (abbreviation for 'circa').
'course' becomes 'lap' ().
'c'+'lap'='CLAP'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for clap that I've seen before include "A meeting of hands" , "express approval" , "Audibly show approval" , "Express approbation with the hands" , "cheer" .)