Girl is after varying rough indicator of time (9)
I believe the answer is:
hourglass
'indicator of time' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'girl is after varying rough' is the wordplay.
'girl' becomes 'lass' (lass is a kind of girl).
'is after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'varying' indicates anagramming the letters.
'rough' is an anagram of 'hourg'.
'lass' after 'hourg' is 'HOURGLASS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hourglass that I've seen before include "enviable figure?" , "Describing a notably slim waist" , "classic figure" , "Well-proportioned, with a small waist" , "old timer" .)