Sailor takes artist to be a foreigner (4)
I believe the answer is:
arab
'a foreigner' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'sailor takes artist' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'takes' indicates putting letters inside.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'ab' going around 'ra' is 'ARAB'.
'to be' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for arab that I've seen before include "Native of North Africa" , "Saudi, e.g." , "Small, lively breed of horse" , "One from Saudi" , "race" .)