What does the cryptic crossword clue "Applaud retired singer kicking butt (5)" mean?

The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). EX (synonym="EX") + ALT (synonym="ALT") = EXALT The answer is EXALT.

Applaud retired singer kicking butt (5)

Independent Cryptic #11845 | 14 Across | 2024-09-26 flower