Strange rites or rows (5)
I believe the answer is:
tiers
'rows' is the definition.
(tier is a kind of row)
'strange rites' is the wordplay.
'strange' is an anagram indicator.
'rites' with letters rearranged gives 'TIERS'.
'or' is the link.
(Other definitions for tiers that I've seen before include "Layers or thicknesses" , "More than one bank" , "Binders" , "Layers, strata" , "drawers?" .)