Formidable female lugs extremely massive boxes round (8)
I believe the answer is:
fearsome
'formidable' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'female lugs extremely massive boxes round' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'lugs' becomes 'ears' (I've seen this before).
'extremely' suggests removing the centre.
'boxes' indicates putting letters inside (the outside letters must 'box' inside letters in).
'round' becomes 'o' (round can mean a round object**).
'massive' with its centre taken out is 'me'.
'ears'+'me'='earsme'
'earsme' placed around 'o' is 'earsome'.
'f'+'earsome'='FEARSOME'
(Other definitions for fearsome that I've seen before include "Dreadful" , "Frightful" , "Formidable" , "Fame rose and became frightening" , "Awful" .)