Padded copper ring with gleaming exterior (8)
I believe the answer is:
cushiony
'padded' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'copper ring with gleaming exterior' is the wordplay.
'copper' becomes 'cu' (chemical symbol).
'ring with' becomes 'o' (letter resembling a ring. I am not sure about the 'with' bit.).
'gleaming' becomes 'shiny' (I've seen this in another clue).
'exterior' is an insertion indicator (some letters go on the outside of others).
'o' placed into 'shiny' is 'shiony'.
'cu'+'shiony'='CUSHIONY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cushiony that I've seen before include "Soft" , "with padding?" .)