Set to receive wife with absence of passion (8)
I believe the answer is:
wireless
'set to receive' is the definition.
(a wireless receives radio signals)
'wife with absence of passion' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'with absence of passion' becomes 'ireless' (ire can mean passion).
'w'+'ireless'='WIRELESS'
(Other definitions for wireless that I've seen before include "Old name for radio - lacks something" , "Receiver" , "25 across" , "Early name for radio" , "Set" .)