Hastened to cut up cedar (5)
I believe the answer is:
raced
'hastened' is the definition.
('race' can be a synonym of 'hasten')
'cut up cedar' is the wordplay.
'cut up' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cedar' is an anagram of 'RACED'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for raced that I've seen before include "speeded" , "Rushed" , "Went quickly round" , "Took part in competition of speed" , "Went fast" .)