Supply pear tree, which is what Partridge wanted on show (8)
I believe the answer is:
repartee
'supply pear tree which is what partridge wanted on show' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'supply pear tree' is the wordplay.
'supply' indicates an anagram (in a supple way).
'pear'+'tree'='peartree'
'peartree' with letters rearranged gives 'REPARTEE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for repartee that I've seen before include "Quick witty replies" , "Banter - pear tree (anag)" , "Quick and witty conversation" , "Clever or witty rejoinder" , "Interchange of clever remarks" .)