Fitting temporarily vacant building (8)
I believe the answer is:
property
'building' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'fitting temporarily vacant' is the wordplay.
'fitting' becomes 'proper' (similar in meaning).
'vacant' suggests removing the centre.
'temporarily' with its middle taken out is 'ty'.
'proper'+'ty'='PROPERTY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for property that I've seen before include "Tangible possession" , "Possessions; characteristic" , "Stuff that is owned" , "Something owned" , "Real estate" .)