An entertainer, trite as can be (7)
I believe the answer is:
artiste
'an entertainer' is the definition.
(artiste is a kind of entertainer)
'trite as can be' is the wordplay.
'can be' is an anagram indicator.
'trite'+'as'='triteas'
'triteas' with letters rearranged gives 'ARTISTE'.
(Other definitions for artiste that I've seen before include "Person playing" , "Attires like entertainer" , "A sitter for creative person" , "Tears it (anag.)" , "Entertainer, singer or dancer" .)