Surge in cost for hill dwellers? (7)
I believe the answer is:
torrent
'surge' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to natural events as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'cost for hill dwellers?' is the wordplay.
'cost' becomes 'rent' (rent is a kind of cost).
'for' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'hill dwellers?' becomes 'tor' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'rent' after 'tor' is 'TORRENT'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for torrent that I've seen before include "Swift or violent stream" , "'Flood, downpour (7)'" , "Rushing stream, flood" , "Rush of water" , "Strong stream" .)