Approach was cut down, we hear (4)
I believe the answer is:
mode
'approach' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'cut down we hear' is the wordplay.
'cut down' becomes 'mowed' (I've seen this before).
'we hear' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'mowed' sounds like 'MODE'.
'was' is the link.
(Other definitions for mode that I've seen before include "Fashion; manner" , "Style of dome" , "Mistake" , "Way, method" , "Way, style" .)