Inkling almost perfect (4)
I believe the answer is:
idea
'inkling' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'almost perfect' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'perfect' becomes 'ideal' (similar in meaning).
'ideal' with its last letter removed is 'IDEA'.
(Other definitions for idea that I've seen before include "Content of cognition" , "Plato's Form is" , "a wheeze" , "Sudden inspiration?" , "Notion in the mind" .)