Increase in warmth? River engulfing shelter (7)
I believe the answer is:
detente
'increase in warmth?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'river engulfing shelter' is the wordplay.
'river' becomes 'dee' (River Dee).
'engulfing' is an insertion indicator.
'shelter' becomes 'tent' (canvas shelter).
'dee' placed around 'tent' is 'DETENTE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for detente that I've seen before include "The easing of tensions between nations" , "Easing of hostility between countries" , "Thaw in relations" , "Easing of strained relationships between countries" , "Easing of international tension" .)