Start working, returning extra suits chap oddly selected (7)
I believe the answer is:
actuate
'start working' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'returning extra suits chap oddly selected' is the wordplay.
'returning' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'oddly selected' means one should take alternating letters.
'extra'+'suits'+'chap'='extrasuitschap'
The alternating letters of 'extrasuitschap' are 'etautca'.
'etautca' backwards is 'ACTUATE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for actuate that I've seen before include "Put into action" , "Cause to operate" , "Inspire" , "Put into operation" , "Trigger off, energise" .)