Inspect an explosive device with former partner (7)
I believe the answer is:
examine
'inspect' is the definition.
(I know that inspect can be written as examine)
'an explosive device with former partner' is the wordplay.
'an' becomes 'a'.
'explosive device' becomes 'mine' (mine is a kind of explosive device).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'former partner' becomes 'ex' (an ex-partner).
'a'+'mine'='amine'
'amine' after 'ex' is 'EXAMINE'.
(Other definitions for examine that I've seen before include "Test, probe" , "Subject to scrutiny" , "Closely study" , "vet" , "Inspect, study" .)