Prize given to the French in a stable state (7)
I believe the answer is:
plateau
'a stable state' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'prize given to the french' is the wordplay.
'prize' becomes 'plate' (a plate may be given as a trophy).
'given' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'to the french' becomes 'au' ('to the' in French).
'plate'+'au'='PLATEAU'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for plateau that I've seen before include "High flattish area" , "plane" , "Level outcrop of land" , "Flat area of land" , "High tableland" .)