Peculiar misplaced cheer right before Taps note (9)
I believe the answer is:
recherche
'peculiar' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'misplaced cheer right before taps note' is the wordplay.
'misplaced' is an anagram indicator (letters in the wrong places).
'right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'taps note' becomes 'che' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'cheer' with letters rearranged gives 'reche'.
'reche'+'r'+'che'='RECHERCHE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for recherche that I've seen before include "Little-known" , "Rare or far-fetched, like her creche" , "Rare or exotic (French)" , "choice" , "Rare, exotic, obscure" .)