Different tie mate needed for early evening (7)
I believe the answer is:
teatime
'early evening' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'different tie mate needed' is the wordplay.
'different' is an anagram indicator (letters placed in a different order).
'needed' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'tie'+'mate'='tiemate'
'tiemate' is an anagram of 'TEATIME'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for teatime that I've seen before include "4pm perhaps?" , "around 5?" , "Four o'clock?" , "Occasion for a light meal" , "When cake might be had" .)