Flying ark is set to find star (8)
I believe the answer is:
asterisk
'star' is the definition.
('asterisk' can be a synonym of 'star')
'flying ark is set' is the wordplay.
'flying' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ark'+'is'+'set'='arkisset'
'arkisset' is an anagram of 'ASTERISK'.
'to find' is the link.
(Other definitions for asterisk that I've seen before include "Sarkiest (Anag)" , "Star-shaped character used in printing" , "Star-like symbol as reference mark" , "Character drawing attention to footnote" , "Textual reference symbol" .)