Note clear principle (5)
I believe the answer is:
tenet
'principle' is the definition.
(a tenet is a principle or value)
'note clear' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'te' (musical note).
'clear' becomes 'net' (as in net profit).
'te'+'net'='TENET'
(Other definitions for tenet that I've seen before include "A religious doctrine proclaimed as true without proof" , "Doctrine, dogma, belief" , "It's believed" , "Belief or doctrine - a palindrome" , "Doctrine; principle held" .)