A number confessing to playing the fool (8)
I believe the answer is:
clowning
'a number' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'confessing to playing the fool' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'playing' could be 'in' and 'in' is found within the answer.
'fool' could be 'clown' (clown is a kind of fool) and 'clown' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'g' remains 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 clowning that I've seen before include "Acting the fool" , "Circus fooling" .)