It's not silicon Denis. 3rd letter is a 't'

Lithium?

LIT(drunk)H i(one) UM

Hum = stink?

Are you using a special Irish thesaurus?
(now well-known that I use my own Canadian one!!)

Thought is was lithium but couldn't figure out hum, however, in a dictionary is the following....

hum...(British & Irish, slang) an unpleasant odour

Hum is still used to mean stink or pong, usually in reference to an unwashed person, although this is probably now a relatively old-fashioned expression.

I was more foxed by lit to mean drunk or drugged.

Well done Denis. ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Treval.

Substitute stage player makes entrance (6,5)

Pearly gates(anagram)

Here's the "pearly" belt: ===[ooWCFoo]===

Thanks Denis.

2 from a local source for the belt:

1. Clean back adhesive part of plant (3)

2. Stable employee mostly feminine (3)

2. lad (LADy)

Correct! One more for the belt!

Clue time . Direct on the right. No a,e or i

(dub)bud ?

Gum? (adhesive)

No to both. Denis, you have 2 of the 3 letters

Bur = sticky part of plant, being reverse (back) of rub (clean).

I think that the clue actually works both ways, so that the answer could also be rub.

===[**WCF**]===

Your belt Lex. I agree Lex about it working both ways. I wonder if there is a 'rule' for these type of clues.

Thank you Mr T!

Given that it is a three letter clue, in the crossword grid the ambivalence may be a plus.

About time for a new thread: the next clue will be there.