Established beads are used (5)
I believe the answer is:
based
'established' is the definition.
('base' can be a synonym of 'establish')
'beads are used' is the wordplay.
'are used' is an anagram indicator.
'beads' anagrammed gives 'BASED'.
(Other definitions for based that I've seen before include "Positioned" , "Worthless" , "Founded or used as evidence" , "Founded, grounded" , "Stationed (in a place)" .)