Narrowly beat seed (3)
I believe the answer is:
pip
I believe this is a double definition.
'narrowly beat' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'seed' is the second definition.
(as in a fruit pip)
(Other definitions for pip that I've seen before include "Dickensian hero" , "tiny bit of fruit" , "'Seed, of an apple say (3)'" , "Dickens hero" , "Narrowly beat" .)