Widow's associates killed by the gardener (5)
I believe the answer is:
weeds
'widow's' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for weeds that I've seen before include "Wild plants; mourning garb" , "Black garments once worn by widows" , "mourning clothes" , "Are they worn by widows in the garden?" , "Unwanted plants" .)