Indicate area circled by hands (4)
I believe the answer is:
mean
'indicate' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'area circled by hands' is the wordplay.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'circled by' indicates putting letters inside (I've seen this in other clues).
'hands' becomes 'men' (synonyms).
'a' going within 'men' is 'MEAN'.
(Other definitions for mean that I've seen before include "Mid-point" , "The average could be miserly" , "Stingy; Scrooge-like" , "Intend; unkind" , "Petty" .)