Fanatics using gas to capture position (6)
I believe the answer is:
cranks
'fanatics' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'gas to capture position' is the wordplay.
'gas' becomes 'CS' (short for a-chlorobenzalmalononitrile).
'to capture' indicates putting letters inside.
'position' becomes 'rank' (rank is a kind of position).
'cs' placed around 'rank' is 'CRANKS'.
'using' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cranks that I've seen before include "people irascible in America" , "People with crazy ideas" , "Drugs" .)