Function as a surgeon does? (7)
I believe the answer is:
operate
'function' is the definition.
(I know that function can be written as operate)
'a surgeon does?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'a' could be 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day') and 'per' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for operate that I've seen before include "Make function" , "man" , "Work as a surgeon" , "Make to work" , "Control, run, a machine say" .)