Commute time halved after motorway opening (8)
I believe the answer is:
mitigate
'commute' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'time halved after motorway opening' is the wordplay.
'halved' means to take half the letters.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'motorway' becomes 'MI' (resembles Mg, English motorway).
'opening' becomes 'gate' (a gate is an opening or entrance).
'time' with half the letters taken is 'ti'.
'ti' after 'mi' is 'miti'.
'miti'+'gate'='MITIGATE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mitigate that I've seen before include "Extenuate" , "Make less severe" , "Lessen the gravity of" , "Temper" , "Make less harsh" .)