Take measurement around middle of chest (5)
I believe the answer is:
seize
'take' is the definition.
(I know that seize is a type of take)
'measurement around middle of chest' is the wordplay.
'measurement' becomes 'size' (size is a kind of measurement).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'middle of chest' becomes 'e' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'size' going around 'e' is 'SEIZE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for seize that I've seen before include "Grasp forcibly" , "Grasp firmly" , "Take (an opportunity)" , "Grab by force" , "square in Paris" .)