Punishes for breaking a spare part (4)
I believe the answer is:
raps
'punishes' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I can't understand how one could define the other.
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for raps that I've seen before include "Sprechgesang pop hits" , "Knocks sharply" , "Cracks" , "'Knocks, on the door say (4)'" .)