Support journal covers novel format (9)
I believe the answer is:
paperback
'novel format' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'support journal covers' is the wordplay.
'support' becomes 'back' (to back is to support or endorse).
'journal' becomes 'paper' (I've seen this before).
'covers' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'back' after 'paper' is 'PAPERBACK'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for paperback that I've seen before include "Book with soft cover" , "Publication" .)