Target in range on circling island (8)
I believe the answer is:
ambition
'target' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'range on circling island' is the wordplay.
'range' becomes 'ambit' ('ambit' can be a synonym of 'range'**).
'circling' means one lot of letters goes inside another (circling can mean going around or containing).
'island' becomes 'i'.
'ambit'+'on'='ambiton'
'ambiton' going around 'i' is 'AMBITION'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for ambition that I've seen before include "Strong desire to achieve fameor fortune" , "Drive to succeed" , "Aspiration - goal" , "Strong desire to achieve, fame or fortune" , "Desire to succeed in life" .)