Like state analysis (5)
I believe the answer is:
assay
'analysis' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'like state' is the wordplay.
'like' becomes 'as'.
'state' becomes 'say' (to state something is to say it).
'as'+'say'='ASSAY'
(Other definitions for assay that I've seen before include "Analyse ore for metal content" , "Examine (ore or alloy?)" , "Test of substance" , "Evaluate" , "metallurgical test" .)