Take away, divide on both sides, carry over, start to total (7)
I believe the answer is:
detract
'take away' is the definition.
(I know that take away can be written as detract)
'divide on both sides carry over start to total' is the wordplay.
'on both sides' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (the left and right sides of the word are used).
'carry' becomes 'cart' (carting is a kind of carrying).
'over' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'start to' suggests taking the first letters.
'divide' with its middle removed is 'de'.
The initial letter of 'total' is 't'.
'cart' written backwards gives 'trac'.
'de'+'trac'+'t'='DETRACT'
(Other definitions for detract that I've seen before include "Take away (from value of something)" , "Derogate" , "Belittle" , "Take away (from worth)" , "Diminish the worth (of)" .)