Search independent state to secure safe access? (11,4)
I believe the answer is:
combination lock
'safe access?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'search independent state to secure' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'search' could be 'comb' (combing is a kind of searching) and 'comb' is found in the answer.
'independent' could be 'i' and 'i' is found in the answer.
'state' could be 'nation' (synonyms) and 'nation' is located in the answer.
'secure' could be 'lock' (locking is a kind of securing) and 'lock' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for combination lock that I've seen is " security device".)