Tot gets $1,000 for an instrument (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
baby grand
'tot' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'$1000 for an instrument' is the wordplay.
'$b000' becomes 'baby' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'for' says to put letters next to each other.
'an instrument' becomes 'grand' (grand is a kind of instrument).
'baby'+'grand'='BABY GRAND'
'gets' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for baby grand that I've seen before include "Type of piano" , "Small, non-upright piano" , "Smaller piano" , "Instrument" , "message of proud new parents?" .)