It can smash a canoe to pieces (5)
I believe the answer is:
ocean
'it can smash a' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'canoe to pieces' is the wordplay.
'to pieces' is an anagram indicator (the same pieces in a new order).
'canoe' anagrammed gives 'OCEAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ocean that I've seen before include "An immense expanse of sea" , "Indian perhaps" , "Large expanse of sea" , "lot of liquid" , "Large stretch of sea" .)