Use of firearms makes the weapons heated (7)
I believe the answer is:
gunshot
'use of firearms makes' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'weapons heated' is the wordplay.
'weapons' becomes 'guns' (gun is a kind of weapon).
'heated' becomes 'hot' (synonyms).
'guns'+'hot'='GUNSHOT'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gunshot that I've seen before include "Firearm's range -- no thugs (anag)" , "One fired" , "Range of a specific weapon" , "Noughts (anag)" , "Firing of hand weapon" .)