Lower rating given to a quilt material supplier? (9)
I believe the answer is:
downgrade
'quilt material supplier?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'lower rating given' is the wordplay.
'lower' becomes 'down' (synonyms).
'rating' becomes 'grade' (grade is a kind of rating).
'given' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'down'+'grade'='DOWNGRADE'
'to a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for downgrade that I've seen before include "Sell short" , "Relegate" , "Demote" , "Reduce in rank or value" , "Denigrate" .)