Result of crossing a reptile with a bird? (10)
I believe the answer is:
turtledove
'result of crossing' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'a reptile with a bird?' is the wordplay.
'a reptile' becomes 'turtle' (turtle is a kind of reptile).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a bird?' becomes 'dove' (dove is a kind of bird).
'turtle'+'dove'='TURTLEDOVE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for turtledove that I've seen before include "Bird given on the second day of Christmas" , "Apparently affectionate bird" , "Loving bird" , "Bird noted for attention to its mate" .)