Make cartoon of endlessly manic couple (7)
I believe the answer is:
animate
'make cartoon' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'endlessly manic couple' is the wordplay.
'endlessly' means to look at the middle letters (the ends of the words are removed).
'couple' becomes 'mate' (synonyms).
The central letters of 'manic' are 'ani'.
'ani'+'mate'='ANIMATE'
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for animate that I've seen before include "Eat main (anag.)" , "Give life or movement to, as with a cartoon" , "Invigorate; alive" , "Make lively like cartoon" , "Inspire" .)