Tim backed one opening check (8)
I believe the answer is:
mitigate
'check' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'tim backed one opening' is the wordplay.
'backed' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'opening' becomes 'gate' (a gate is an opening or entrance).
'tim' backwards is 'mit'.
'mit'+'i'+'gate'='MITIGATE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mitigate that I've seen before include "Lessen - modify" , "Mollify" , "Reduce the severity of, say a sentence" , "Soften" , "Temper" .)