Play strings (5)
I believe the answer is:
strum
'play strings' is the definition.
(as in strumming a guitar)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for strum that I've seen before include "Play idly on guitar etc" , "Sweepingly sound guitar strings" , "Play a banjo" , "Sweep fingers over strings" , "Casually play (on a stringed instrument)" .)