Month in the past, name a student getting in shape (9)
I believe the answer is:
octagonal
'month in the past name a student getting in shape' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'a student getting in shape' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'getting' says to put letters next to each other.
'in shape' becomes 'octagon' (octagon is a kind of shape. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.).
'a'+'l'='al'
'al' after 'octagon' is 'OCTAGONAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for octagonal that I've seen before include "Having eight sides as in geometric figure" , "Having eight straight sides" , "with quite a few sides" , "With eight sides and angles" , "With many sides" .)