Following from main exterior (4)
I believe the answer is:
next
'following' is the definition.
(I know that following can be written as next)
'from main exterior' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'NEXT' can be found hidden inside 'main exterior'.
(Other definitions for next that I've seen before include "The one following or adjacent" , "First in line" , "Nearest in space or position" , "Succeeding" , "The second cherry stone on the plate" .)