Napping, the general is swallowed by a snake (6)
I believe the answer is:
asleep
'napping' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'general is swallowed by a snake' is the wordplay.
'general' becomes 'lee' (Robert E. Lee - US revolutionary commander).
'is swallowed by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a snake' becomes 'asp' (asp is a kind of snake).
'lee' inserted into 'asp' is 'ASLEEP'.
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for asleep that I've seen before include "See, pal strangely is not awake" , "Dormant, inactive" , "Dozing" , "Napping" , "Out for the count" .)