Plant being small died (4)
I believe the answer is:
weed
'plant' is the definition.
(weed is a kind of plant)
'small died' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 'wee' ('wee' can be similar in meaning to 'small').
'died' becomes 'd'.
'wee'+'d'='WEED'
'being' is the link.
(Other definitions for weed that I've seen before include "Got rid of water" , "Plant growing where it is not wanted" , "nuisance in bed" , "Useless plant - useless person" , "Work in garden" .)