Softly lifted dead part of flower (5)
I believe the answer is:
petal
'part of flower' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'softly lifted dead' is the wordplay.
'softly' becomes 'p' (short for piano, musical term for softly).
'lifted' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in down clue).
'dead' becomes 'late' (similar in meaning).
'late' written backwards gives 'etal'.
'p'+'etal'='PETAL'
(Other definitions for petal that I've seen before include "Bit of blooming" , "Flowery term of endearment?" , "part of seven [VIOLA]" , "Plate (anag.)" , "Leapt (anag.)" .)