Stand outside work before power shutdown (8)
I believe the answer is:
stoppage
'shutdown' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'stand outside work before power' is the wordplay.
'stand' becomes 'stage'.
'outside' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'work' becomes 'op' (abbreviation for opus).
'before power' becomes 'p' (symbol in physics. I am not sure about the 'before' bit.).
'op'+'p'='opp'
'stage' going around 'opp' is 'STOPPAGE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stoppage that I've seen before include "Instance of industrial action" , "Discontinuation" , "Closure" , "What plug achieves" , "Blockage or cessation" .)