Soil slightly damaged, taste evidence of disaster? (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
oil slick
'evidence of disaster?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'soil slightly damaged taste' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'soil' is 'oils' which is present in the answer.
'taste' could be 'lick' (I've seen this before) and 'lick' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oil slick that I've seen before include "Surface film, leaking from a ship or well" , "ecological problem at sea" , "Common marine spillage" , "Crude contaminant" , "Film of viscous liquid floating on top of water" .)