Boy returned red steps (6)
I believe the answer is:
ladder
'steps' is the definition.
(ladder is a kind of steps)
'boy returned red' is the wordplay.
'boy' becomes 'lad' (informal term for boy).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'red' back-to-front is 'der'.
'lad'+'der'='LADDER'
(Other definitions for ladder that I've seen before include "Climbing structure" , "See 12" , "Run in stockings" , "Hierarchical structure" , "Framework for scaling, usually portable" .)