One upholding a standard? (4)
I believe the answer is:
mast
'a standard?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'one upholding' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'one' could be 'a' (a thing is one thing) and 'a' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'mst' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mast that I've seen before include "Pole on ship" , "Pole to support a sail" , "Television transmitter" , "Tall pole from which flag is flown" , "Spar to support a sail" .)