Graduate draws in circles — with this? (9)
I believe the answer is:
compasses
'this?' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech.
'graduate draws in circles' is the wordplay.
'graduate' becomes 'pass' (I've seen this before).
'draws in' becomes 'comes' (to draw in is to arrive or approach).
'circles' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'pass' inserted inside 'comes' is 'COMPASSES'.
'with' is the link.
(Other definitions for compasses that I've seen before include "get these for geometry" , "English name for the constellation Circinus" , "Circle-drawing instruments" , "they're to measure the distance" .)