Told number, bound to ring independent female (8)
I believe the answer is:
notified
'told' is the definition.
'number bound to ring independent female' is the wordplay.
'number' becomes 'no' (abbreviation for 'number').
'bound' becomes 'tied' (I've seen this before**).
'to ring' is an insertion indicator.
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'i'+'f'='if'
'tied' placed around 'if' is 'tified'.
'no'+'tified'='NOTIFIED'
(Other definitions for notified that I've seen before include "Formally informed" , "Informed, reported to" , "Told, informed" , "Officially informed" .)