Poem penned by male lecturer, for example (5)
I believe the answer is:
model
'example' is the definition.
('model' can be a synonym of 'example')
'poem penned by male lecturer' is the wordplay.
'poem' becomes 'ode' (ode is a kind of poem**).
'penned by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'lecturer' becomes 'l'.
'm'+'l'='ml'
'ode' placed within 'ml' is 'MODEL'.
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for model that I've seen before include "Poser for painter or photographer" , "Scale replica" , "Replica (on the catwalk?)" , "Pose" , "Example (on the catwalk?)" .)