Instructive meeting where commander-in-chief holds nothing back (6)
I believe the answer is:
clinic
'instructive meeting' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both groups as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'commander-in-chief holds nothing back' is the wordplay.
'commander-in-chief' becomes 'CIC' (abbreviation).
'holds' is an insertion indicator.
'nothing' becomes 'nil' (eg nil is zero in football).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'cic' enclosing 'nil' is 'cinilc'.
'cinilc' written backwards gives 'CLINIC'.
'where' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for clinic that I've seen before include "Outpatient session" , "medical department" , "Doctor's session" , "Surgery" , "Place for medical treatment or political advice" .)