Figures to interrupt a meal for an exam (7)
I believe the answer is:
medical
'an exam' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'figures to interrupt a meal' is the wordplay.
'figures' becomes 'dic' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to interrupt' indicates putting letters inside.
'dic' put within 'meal' is 'MEDICAL'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for medical that I've seen before include "Thorough health check" , "Of the science dealing with treatment of disease" , "Of the healing sciences" , "Fitness examination" , "Relating to treatment rather than surgery" .)