Pipes from bath emptied slowly at first (5)
I believe the answer is:
tubes
'pipes' is the definition.
('tube' can be a synonym of 'pipe')
'bath emptied slowly at first' is the wordplay.
'bath' becomes 'tub' (synonyms).
'at first' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'emptied slowly' is 'es'.
'tub'+'es'='TUBES'
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tubes that I've seen before include "Hollow cylindrical shapes" , "Long hollow cylinders" , "Hoses, pipes, lines etc" , "Piping" , "Long hollow conduits" .)