Route that keeps close to a stream of traffic (7)
I believe the answer is:
towpath
'route that keeps close to a stream of traffic' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'route that keeps close to' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'route' could be 'path' ('path' can be a synonym of 'route') and 'path' is located in the answer.
'to' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'w' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for towpath that I've seen before include "Canalside track" , "Track by waterway" , "that runs along bank" , "22 by canal" , "Track once used to pull barges on canals" .)