Sensational to mention about eating beef in retrospect (6)
I believe the answer is:
exotic
'sensational' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'mention about eating beef in retrospect' is the wordplay.
'mention' becomes 'cite' (synonyms).
'about' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'eating' indicates putting letters inside.
'beef' becomes 'ox'.
'in retrospect' is a reversal indicator.
'cite' backwards is 'etic'.
'ox' written backwards gives 'xo'.
'etic' placed around 'xo' is 'EXOTIC'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for exotic that I've seen before include "Weird; alien" , "Alien; outlandish" , "Strange and colourful as from abroad" , "Interestingly different or strange" , "Foreign, strange or exciting" .)