Try to protect male vanity (4)
I believe the answer is:
pomp
'vanity' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'try to protect male' is the wordplay.
'try' becomes 'pop' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to protect' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are held or protected).
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'pop' placed around 'm' is 'POMP'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pomp that I've seen before include "Ceremonial grandeur" , "Stately display, goes with ceremony" , "Excessive ceremony" , "Great show" , "Ceremony and splendour" .)