A cat in charge at very small level (6)
I believe the answer is:
atomic
'very small level' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'a cat in charge' is the wordplay.
'cat' becomes 'tom' (a tom is a male cat).
'in charge' becomes 'ic' (abbreviation for 'in charge').
'a'+'tom'+'ic'='ATOMIC'
'at' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for atomic that I've seen before include "Relating to minute matter (6)" , "Immeasurably small -- omit AC (anag)" , "Extremely minute" , "Relating to the smallest component of an element" , "Of very small particles" .)