Runs away with sailors across the Channel (7)
I believe the answer is:
abducts
'runs away' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'sailors across the channel' is the wordplay.
'sailors' becomes 'abs' (AB is short for able seaman).
'across' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the channel' becomes 'duct' ('duct' can be a synonym of 'channel').
'abs' going around 'duct' is 'ABDUCTS'.
'with' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abducts that I've seen before include "Makes off with" , "Takes away" , "Kidnaps" , "Takes by force" .)