Senior metalworker wanting wife (5)
I believe the answer is:
elder
'senior' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'metalworker wanting wife' is the wordplay.
'metalworker' becomes 'welder' (I've seen this before).
'wanting' is a deletion indicator (wanting can mean lacking).
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'welder' with 'w' removed is 'ELDER'.
(Other definitions for elder that I've seen before include "Woody shrub - used for wine, tea or cordial" , "more mature" , "Church official; tree" , "Ancestor" , "Older or two" .)