Real problem with small ray (5)
I believe the answer is:
laser
'ray' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'real problem with small' is the wordplay.
'problem with' is an anagram indicator.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'real' with its letters anagrammed with 's' can make 'LASER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for laser that I've seen before include "Device that produces an intense beam of light" , "light-intensifier" , "Coherent light source" , "Source of light; type of printer" , "Device producing a narrow, intense beam of light" .)