Showed annoyance in grating nutmeg? (8)
I believe the answer is:
grimaced
'showed annoyance' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'in grating nutmeg?' is the wordplay.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'grating' becomes 'grid' (I've seen this before).
'nutmeg?' becomes 'mace' (I've seen this in another clue).
'grid' going around 'mace' is 'GRIMACED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for grimaced that I've seen before include "Pulled a face" , "Made an ugly face" , "didn't look happy" , "Made contorted face over decigram" , "Contorted face as seen in decigram" .)