Perhaps they're hot and cold Spanish dishes an adult leaves (4)
I believe the answer is:
taps
'leaves' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for taps that I've seen before include "Military bugle call at dusk" , "pierces" , "Bugs; valves" , "Bugs (wire)" , "Strikes lightly; eavesdropping devices" .)