Lacking goals, it's the essence of improvised music (2-5)
I believe the answer is:
no-score
'lacking goals' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'it's the essence of improvised music' is the wordplay.
'it' becomes 'pronoun' ('it' is a pronoun).
'the essence' indicates the central letters (essence can mean the core of something).
'of' becomes 'o''.
'improvised music' becomes 'score' (score is a kind of music. I am not sure about the 'improvised' bit.).
The central letter of 'pronoun' is 'n'.
'n'+'o'+'score'='NO SCORE'
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution?
Install my app