Listener in home - that's as close as it gets (7)
I believe the answer is:
nearest
'as close as it gets' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'listener in home' is the wordplay.
'listener' becomes 'ear' (body part which hears or listens).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'home' becomes 'nest' (a bird's home).
'ear' inserted within 'nest' is 'NEAREST'.
'that's' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nearest that I've seen before include "Relations" , "most like Scrooge at first" , "Most approximate" , "Most accessible" , "With dearest, they're our loved ones" .)