Where initially to take a breather in strain (5)
I believe the answer is:
wrest
'strain' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'where initially to take a breather' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'to take a breather' becomes 'rest' (synonyms).
The first letter of 'where' is 'w'.
'w'+'rest'='WREST'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wrest that I've seen before include "Seize by forceful means" , "With difficulty obtain" , "Forcibly pull (something from someone's grip)" , "Remove with force" , "Snatch from" .)