Examine boy brought up in immoral circumstances (7)
I believe the answer is:
scandal
'immoral circumstances' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'examine boy brought up' is the wordplay.
'examine' becomes 'scan' (scanning is a kind of examining).
'boy' becomes 'lad' (informal term for boy).
'brought up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters go up).
'lad' reversed gives 'dal'.
'scan'+'dal'='SCANDAL'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scandal that I've seen before include "Shocking disgrace" , "outrageous behaviour" , "content of 3 [RED TOPS]?" , "dirt" , "Subject of Sheridan's school" .)