Not flush but accepted by the social clique (5)
I believe the answer is:
inset
'not flush' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'accepted by the social clique' is the wordplay.
'accepted' becomes 'in' (I've seen this in other clues).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the social clique' becomes 'set' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'social' bit.).
'in'+'set'='INSET'
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inset that I've seen before include "Tines (anag.)" , "It could be stuck between pages" , "one image within another" , "Piece let into a garment" , "Intimidated" .)