Advanced cautiously, front end first

NOSEDIN

Think of how a shy animal might enter a room, leading with its snout.

The clue "Advanced cautiously, front end first" hints at moving forward carefully while emphasizing the front part. "Nosed in" means to move slowly or cautiously into a space, with "nose" representing the front end. The wordplay combines "nose" (front) and "in" (direction) to form the answer "NOSEDIN." It’s a straightforward definition with a slight twist in phrasing.