Record tango, then copy (4)
I believe the answer is:
tape
'record' is the definition.
('tape' can be a synonym of 'record')
'tango then copy' is the wordplay.
'tango' becomes 't' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'then' says to put letters next to each other.
'copy' becomes 'ape' ('ape' can be a synonym of 'copy').
't'+'ape'='TAPE'
(Other definitions for tape that I've seen before include "Recording material" , "Magnetic recording medium; measuring strip" , "Breast this first to win foot-race" , "Adhesive --; red --" , "Race winning line; record" .)