Carving in metal causes complaint (7)
I believe the answer is:
ailment
'complaint' is the definition.
(I know that complaint can be written as ailment)
'carving in metal' is the wordplay.
'carving' is an anagram indicator.
'in'+'metal'='inmetal'
'inmetal' is an anagram of 'AILMENT'.
'causes' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ailment that I've seen before include "Physical disorder" , "Tummy upset, for instance" , "Complaint, affliction" , "Malady" , "Slight but persistent illness" .)