Single elements burn pittas every so often (5)
I believe the answer is:
units
'single elements' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'burn pittas every so often' is the wordplay.
'every so often' means one should take alternating letters.
'burn'+'pittas'='burnpittas'
The alternate letters of 'burnpittas' are 'UNITS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for units that I've seen before include "Individual things or groups" , "Individual things, like pieces of furniture" , "Measures of alcohol" , "Detachments" , "military teams" .)