Heavenly females with many functions (5)
I believe the answer is:
muses
'heavenly females' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'with many functions' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'many' becomes 'm' (Roman numeral for a thousand).
'functions' becomes 'uses' ('use' can be a synonym of 'function').
'm'+'uses' is 'MUSES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for muses that I've seen before include "Nine goddesses of the liberal arts" , "Ponders with goddesses of the arts" , "In Greek and Roman myth, nine goddesses of the arts" , "Contemplates" , "Nine goddesses who presided over learning and the arts" .)