Withstand the elements (7)
I believe the answer is:
weather
This clue is a double definition.
'withstand' is the first definition.
(I know that weather is a more specific form of the action withstand)
'elements' is the second definition.
(synonyms)
'the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for weather that I've seen before include "State of the atmosphere" , "Conditions outside; survive (crisis)" , "Meteorological conditions" , "Endure" , "Climatic conditions" .)