Predator puts lock around twisted soldier (7)
I believe the answer is:
tigress
'predator' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'lock around twisted soldier' is the wordplay.
'lock' becomes 'tress' (both can mean a piece of hair).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'twisted' is a reversal indicator.
'soldier' becomes 'GI' (term for US soldier).
'gi' back-to-front is 'ig'.
'tress' going around 'ig' is 'TIGRESS'.
'puts' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tigress that I've seen before include "Striped female animal" , "Female big cat" , "dangerous animal" , "Fierce woman" , "Ferocious female" .)