Tough master embraced by a female (2-3)
I believe the answer is:
he-man
'tough' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'master embraced by a female' is the wordplay.
'master' becomes 'ma'.
'embraced by' is an insertion indicator.
'a female' becomes 'hen' (hen is a kind of female).
'ma' inserted within 'hen' is 'HE-MAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for he-man that I've seen before include "Macho chap" , "Tough guy, doubly male" , "Alpha male" , "Muscular fellow" , "Extremely virile male" .)