Role for chap is to hold empty net (6)
I believe the answer is:
mantle
'empty net' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'role for chap is to hold' is the wordplay.
'role for' becomes 'nt' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'chap' becomes 'male' (chap can mean a man).
'is to hold' is an insertion indicator.
'nt' put into 'male' is 'MANTLE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mantle that I've seen before include "Loose cloak, shawl" , "Goes over light" , "Layer below earth's crust" , "Cloak and shelf over the fireplace" , "Gas lamp part; cloak" .)