Hot air cut short at the barber's (4)
I believe the answer is:
hair
'the barber's' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'hot air' is the wordplay.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
'h'+'air'='HAIR'
'cut short at' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hair that I've seen before include "It grows from a follicle" , "Bristle" , "Fur, say" , "Stage musical" , "Famous hirsute musical with song ` `Aquarius' ' (4)" .)