Following a breather, the ultimate in intensive exercise (5)
I believe the answer is:
lunge
'intensive exercise' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'following a breather the ultimate' is the wordplay.
'following' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a breather' becomes 'lung' (you breathe with your lungs).
'ultimate' suggests the final letters (the last or ultimate letter).
The last letter of 'the' is 'e'.
'lung'+'e' is 'LUNGE'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lunge that I've seen before include "Sudden thrust in fencing" , "Sudden forward movement" , "Thrust forward as with sword" , "Trust forward as with sword" , "Fall upon" .)