A prize for waste (7)
I believe the answer is:
atrophy
'for waste' is the definition.
(atrophy means to waste away)
'a prize' is the wordplay.
'prize' becomes 'trophy' (synonyms).
'a'+'trophy'='ATROPHY'
(Other definitions for atrophy that I've seen before include "shrivel" , "Decay" , "Degenerate" , "wasting away" , "Become weak and thin through lack of use or nourishment" .)