Figure-hugging clothes fade briefly in autumn (8)
I believe the answer is:
twilight
'autumn' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to time as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'figure-hugging clothes fade briefly' is the wordplay.
'figure hugging' becomes 'tight' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'clothes' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are clothed in others).
'fade' becomes 'wilt' (I've seen this in another clue).
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'wilt' with its last letter taken away is 'wil'.
'tight' enclosing 'wil' is 'TWILIGHT'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for twilight that I've seen before include "Period of illumination when sun is just below horizon" , "Period post-sunset" , "semi-darkness" , "Period just after sunset, becoming dark" , "Glow after sunset" .)