Rows about rites (5)
I believe the answer is:
tiers
'rows' is the definition.
(tier is a kind of row)
'about rites' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates anagramming the letters.
'rites' with letters rearranged gives 'TIERS'.
(Other definitions for tiers that I've seen before include "Layers or thicknesses" , "drawers?" , "I rest in layers" , "Rows; levels" , "Tries (anag.)" .)