Though orderly, can get messy around the end of August (6)
I believe the answer is:
system
'end of august' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'though orderly can get messy around' is the wordplay.
'though orderly can' becomes 't' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'get' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'around' is an anagram indicator.
'messy' is an anagram of 'sysem'.
't' placed into 'sysem' is 'SYSTEM'.
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for system that I've seen before include "Way" , "Group of elements forming a unified whole" , "Complex whole; method" , "Methodical procedure" , "The government" .)