Glut of butter in the southeast? (5)
I believe the answer is:
spate
'glut' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'butter in the southeast?' is the wordplay.
'butter' becomes 'pat' (a pat can mean a lump of butter).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'the southeast?' becomes 'SE' (synonyms).
'pat' going inside 'se' is 'SPATE'.
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spate that I've seen before include "rash" , "Fast outpouring" , "A sudden flood or rush" , "Suddenly got a lot" , "Rush, flood (of river)" .)