Pick up time, getting encouragement (5)
I believe the answer is:
heart
'encouragement' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both feelings as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'pick up time getting' is the wordplay.
'pick up' becomes 'hear' (synonyms).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hear'+'t'='HEART'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for heart that I've seen before include "Decorated (cake)" , "Feeling" , "Centre; core" , "See 22" , "Muscular organ for blood circulation" .)