Grating a third of cheese, why put on loose fragments? (8)
I believe the answer is:
screechy
'grating' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a third of cheese why put on loose fragments?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'why' could be 'y' and 'y' is found in the answer.
'on' could be 're' ('on' can be mean 'with reference to') and 're' is found within the answer.
'third of cheese' could be 'e' (3rd letter of 'cheese') and 'e' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for screechy that I've seen before include "Harsh and shrill" , "calling loudly" , "Loud and shrill" , "Loud, harsh, piercing" , "Making harsh and piercing cries" .)