Search around Lima for growth (5)
I believe the answer is:
trawl
'search' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'around lima for growth' is the wordplay.
'around' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'lima' becomes 'l' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'growth' becomes 'wart' (I've seen this before**).
'l'+'wart'='lwart'
'lwart' backwards is 'TRAWL'.
(Other definitions for trawl that I've seen before include "Use net" , "Fishermen may use it" , "Fishing dragnet" , "Search thoroughly" , "search for a suitable appointment" .)