Quietly points to a number forming a chain (7)
I believe the answer is:
pennine
'a chain' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'quietly points to a number' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'points' becomes 'en'.
'to a number' becomes 'nine' (nine is a kind of whole number).
'p'+'en'+'nine'='PENNINE'
'forming' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pennine that I've seen before include "The - Way, Britain's first long-distance footpath" , "English mountain chain" , "Relating to English mountains" .)