The way an article is used in corporal punishment (4)
I believe the answer is:
road
'the way' is the definition.
(road is a kind of way)
'an article is used in corporal punishment' is the wordplay.
'an article' becomes 'a' (English indefinite article).
'is used in' indicates putting letters inside.
'corporal punishment' becomes 'rod' (stick used for corporal punishment. I am not sure about the 'corporal' bit.).
'a' going inside 'rod' is 'ROAD'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for road that I've seen before include "Way to achieving a particular outcome" , "See 10" , "'The . . . . to hell is paved with good intentions'" , "course" , "Abbey -, Beatles album" .)