Stuck together, ditching leader that’s no longer fresh (4)
I believe the answer is:
used
'no longer fresh' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'stuck together ditching leader' is the wordplay.
'stuck together' becomes 'fused' (I've seen this before).
'ditching' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'leader' becomes 'f' (I have seen 'German leader ' mean 'f' so perhaps 'leader' could also mean 'f').
'fused' with 'f' taken away is 'USED'.
'that's' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for used that I've seen before include "exhausted" , "Previously owned by another" , "Second-hand - not wasted" , "Dues (anag.)" , "took a chance on becoming dependent" .)