Uncovered studies set up involving family relations (7)
I believe the answer is:
skinned
'uncovered' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'studies set up involving family relations' is the wordplay.
'studies' becomes 'dens' (I've seen this before).
'set up' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'involving' indicates putting letters inside.
'family relations' becomes 'kin' (I've seen this in another clue).
'dens' reversed gives 'sned'.
'sned' placed around 'kin' is 'SKINNED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for skinned that I've seen before include "Fleeced" , "Took pelt from (an animal)" , "Removed pelt" , "Flayed" , "Removed the outer covering" .)