Artist dips composition in dangerous part of river (6)
I believe the answer is:
rapids
'artist dips composition in dangerous part of river' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'artist dips composition in' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'composition' is an anagram indicator (letters arranged or composed in a different order).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'dips' is an anagram of 'pids'.
'ra' placed inside 'pids' is 'RAPIDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rapids that I've seen before include "Fast-flowing river stretches, white water" , "Fast-flowing and turbulent part of a river" , "Fast currents (shot by explorers?)" , "Parts of a river where the current is very fast" , "White water area" .)