Sing like Tom Waits (4)
I believe the answer is:
rasp
'sing like tom waits' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for rasp that I've seen before include "Smoother" , "Grate; scrape" , "unpleasant noise" , "Harsh grating sound" , "Abrade" .)