Crossword Genius

Old sexy nurses giving hilarious performance (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hoot

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hilarious performance' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'old sexy nurses' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (abbreviation).
'sexy' becomes 'hot' (similar in meaning).
'nurses' means one lot of letters goes inside another (nurse can mean to hold onto or harbour).
'o' placed into 'hot' is 'HOOT'.

'giving' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hoot that I've seen before include "Cry of owl" , "Hollow cry" , "Screech" , "Shout of derision" , "Raucous cry" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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