Cut small tree (5)
I believe the answer is:
steak
'cut small tree' is the definition.
'steak' can be an answer for 'cut' (cut of meat). I'm unsure of the 'small tree' bit.
'cut small tree' is the wordplay.
'cut small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size. I am not sure about the 'cut' bit.).
'tree' becomes 'teak' (teak is a kind of tree).
's'+'teak'='STEAK'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for steak that I've seen before include "Fleshy piece of meat" , "Good beef" , "Porterhouse, perhaps?" , "Portion of meat" , "Meat (rare, medium or well done?)" .)