Sticks around a stake (4)
I believe the answer is:
pyre
'sticks around a stake' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for pyre that I've seen before include "Part of Eastern death rite" , "Woodpile for burning the dead" , "Wood for a funeral fire" , "Heap of combustible material for burning a body" , "On which a body is burned" .)