Investigate kiss stolen by crafty eloper (7)
I believe the answer is:
explore
'investigate' is the definition.
(I know that explore is a more specific form of the action investigate)
'kiss stolen by crafty eloper' is the wordplay.
'kiss' becomes 'x' (X can represent a kiss).
'stolen by' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are taken or stolen).
'crafty' indicates anagramming the letters.
'eloper' with letters rearranged gives 'eplore'.
'x' put into 'eplore' is 'EXPLORE'.
(Other definitions for explore that I've seen before include "Examine or investigate, maybe possibilities" , "Investigate for the purpose of discovery" , "Evaluate (possibility)" , "Travel through an area to learn about it" , "Travel through for purpose of discovery" .)