Drinking establishments popular with empty nesters (4)
I believe the answer is:
inns
'drinking establishments' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'popular with empty nesters' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in' (something that's 'in' is fashionable).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'empty' means to remove the middle letters.
'nesters' with its middle removed is 'ns'.
'in'+'ns'='INNS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inns that I've seen before include "Places to stay" , "Places of rest and sustenance for travellers" , "Roadhouses or courthouses" , "travellers' accommodation" , "Bars" .)