Number holding one aboard tug at sea, one on the run? (8)
I believe the answer is:
fugitive
'the run?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'number holding one aboard tug at sea one' is the wordplay.
'number' becomes 'five' (five is a number).
'holding' indicates putting letters inside.
'one aboard' indicates putting letters inside.
'at sea' indicates anagramming the letters.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'tug' anagrammed gives 'ugt'.
'ugt' placed around 'i' is 'ugit'.
'five' enclosing 'ugit' is 'FUGITIVE'.
'on' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fugitive that I've seen before include "Runaway from justice" , "He's on the run, perhaps from justice" , "One fleeing captivity" , "He's on the run, maybe from justice" , "The . . . . . . . .'s name is Dr Richard Kimble" .)