Mean getting in late, perhaps (6)
I believe the answer is:
entail
'mean' is the definition.
('entail' can be a synonym of 'mean')
'getting in late perhaps' is the wordplay.
'getting' says to put letters next to each other.
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'in' put after 'late' is 'latein'.
'latein' anagrammed gives 'ENTAIL'.
(Other definitions for entail that I've seen before include "settlement of estate" , "Inalienable estate" , "Restriction on inheritance" , "If willing, this settles" , "Cut" .)