Gloat before new award (5)
I believe the answer is:
crown
'award' is the definition.
(I know that crown is a type of award)
'gloat before new' is the wordplay.
'gloat' becomes 'crow' (synonyms).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'crow'+'n'='CROWN'
(Other definitions for crown that I've seen before include "Royal headdress" , "honour" , "Headdress, coin" , "Top of the head; coin" , "Coin; royal headgear" .)