Receding wave, second, was hot (8)
I believe the answer is:
backwash
'receding wave' is the definition.
'backwash' can be an answer for 'wave' (backwash is a kind of wave). I'm not certain of the 'receding' bit.
'second was hot' is the wordplay.
'second' becomes 'back' (to second a motion is to back it).
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
'back'+'was'+'h'='BACKWASH'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for backwash that I've seen before include "Wake" , "Unpleasant after-effects" .)