Portugal prior to now erected gloomy towers (7)
I believe the answer is:
pagodas
'towers' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'portugal prior to now erected gloomy' is the wordplay.
'portugal' becomes 'p' (common abbreviation eg on car number plates).
'prior to now' becomes 'ago' (I've seen this in another clue).
'erected' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'gloomy' becomes 'sad' (similar in meaning).
'sad' reversed gives 'das'.
'p'+'ago'+'das'='PAGODAS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for pagodas that I've seen is " temples".)