Laps up small amounts (5)
I believe the answer is:
licks
'laps up' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'small amounts' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 'lic' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'amounts' becomes 'ks' (k is a kind of amount).
'lic'+'ks'='LICKS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for licks that I've seen before include "Laps" , "Beats (slang)" , "Music" , "musical flourishes" , "Thrashes" .)