Distinct part played with ease (8)
I believe the answer is:
separate
'distinct' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'part played with ease' is the wordplay.
'played with' indicates anagramming the letters (letters playing around).
'part' mixed up with 'ease' can make 'SEPARATE'.
(Other definitions for separate that I've seen before include "Set apart" , "Distinct; divide" , "Divide, part" , "Split" , "Dinstinct or discrete" .)