Weak finalist lost upon missing starter gun (6)
I believe the answer is:
weapon
'missing starter gun' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'weak finalist lost upon' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'weak' could be 'w' (physics symbol as in W-boson) and 'w' is found within the answer.
'upon' could be 'on' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'on' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for weapon that I've seen before include "shooter, say" , "club, perhaps" , "Device to inflict harm, gun or sword" , "Device for offence/defence" , "Eg, sword or gun" .)