Ten areas used to describe the Ottoman Empire (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
near east
'describe the ottoman empire' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'ten areas used' is the wordplay.
'used' is an anagram indicator.
'ten'+'areas'='tenareas'
'tenareas' anagrammed gives 'NEAR EAST'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for near east that I've seen before include "The Levant" , "The Balkans and Turkey" , "group of countries" , "Western Asian states formerly" , "where communities are often in conflict" .)