They may be held in revulsion (5)
I believe the answer is:
noses
'they' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for noses that I've seen before include "Organs of smell" , "Beaks, conks" , "Pries" , "Olfactory organs" , "Schnozzles" .)