Constructing tiny metal character (9)
I believe the answer is:
mentality
'character' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'constructing tiny metal' is the wordplay.
'constructing' indicates an anagram.
'tiny'+'metal'='tinymetal'
'tinymetal' anagrammed gives 'MENTALITY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mentality that I've seen before include "Way of thinking" , "See 7" .)