Being metal, it conducts electricity (4)
I believe the answer is:
lead
'being metal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'it conducts electricity' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'it' could be 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT') and 'e' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'lad' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lead that I've seen before include "Metal - wire" , "Show the way; soft metallic element" , "front man" , "Short wire used as jumper - Pb" , "first name in lights?" .)