Function as a surgeon does? (7)
I believe the answer is:
operate
'function' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'a surgeon does?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' could be 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day') and 'per' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'as' acts as a 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" .)