Hide the real difference (7)
I believe the answer is:
leather
'hide' is the definition.
(an animal hide)
'the real difference' is the wordplay.
'difference' is an anagram indicator.
'the'+'real'='thereal'
'thereal' is an anagram of 'LEATHER'.
(Other definitions for leather that I've seen before include "Material made from animal skin" , "Morocco, perhaps" , "Dressed skin" , "Treated hide" , "Fabric" .)