Ooze inside pipe clearing (8)
I believe the answer is:
sweeping
'clearing' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'ooze inside pipe' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'inside' could be 'in' and 'in' is found in the answer.
'pipe' could be 'weep' (I've seen this before) and 'weep' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sweeping that I've seen before include "Brushing or ignoring distinctions" , "not very specific" , "tidying up" , "Using a broom" , "Raising a dust" .)