Obscure cuttings placed in here from time to time (7)
I believe the answer is:
eclipse
'obscure' is the definition.
(eclipsing is a kind of obscuring)
'cuttings placed in here from time to time' is the wordplay.
'cuttings' becomes 'clips' (clip is a kind of cutting).
'placed in' means one lot of letters goes inside another (I've seen this in other clues).
'from time to time' indicates alternate letters (letters removed on a regular basis).
The alternating letters of 'here' are 'ee'.
'clips' going inside 'ee' is 'ECLIPSE'.
(Other definitions for eclipse that I've seen before include "Over-shadow as the earth may the moon" , "The blocking of light of one heavenly body by another" , "Celestial phenomenon" , "Darkening of the sun" , "Throw into obscurity, perhaps the sun" .)