It appears to produce fright or respect perhaps (7)
I believe the answer is:
spectre
'it appears to produce fright' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'respect perhaps' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' indicates an anagram.
'respect' is an anagram of 'SPECTRE'.
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spectre that I've seen before include "'Phantom, shade (7)'" , "Sceptre (anag.)" , "Ghost, phantom, apparition" , "Ghostly figure" , "Respect for a ghost" .)