Terribly pale small springs (5)
I believe the answer is:
leaps
'springs' is the definition.
(I know this)
'terribly pale small' is the wordplay.
'terribly' indicates anagramming the letters.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'pale' anagrammed gives 'leap'.
'leap'+'s'='LEAPS'
(Other definitions for leaps that I've seen before include "Jumps or bounds" , "Pales in vaults" , "Makes fast progress - by . . . . . and bounds" , "Jumps or springs suddenly" , "Pales (anag.)" .)