Be a novice making tarts (5)

I believe the answer is:

start

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'be a novice' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'making tarts' is the wordplay.
'making' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tarts' with letters rearranged gives 'START'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for start that I've seen before include "Begin - opening move" , "Opening - jump" , "lead" , "Beginning" , "begin an argument?" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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