Gruff Arab tips off agent (5)
I believe the answer is:
raspy
'gruff' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'arab tips off agent' is the wordplay.
'arab' becomes 'Ar.' (abbreviation in Chambers).
'tips' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'tipping' mean this).
'off agent' becomes 'spy' (spy is a kind of agent. I am not sure about the 'off' bit.).
'ar' written backwards gives 'ra'.
'ra'+'spy'='RASPY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for raspy that I've seen is " Harsh, grating".)