Wait behind cleaner, short of time (4)
I believe the answer is:
bide
'wait' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'behind cleaner short of time' is the wordplay.
'behind cleaner' becomes 'bidet' (I've seen this before).
'short of' suggests deleting specific letters.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'bidet' with 't' removed is 'BIDE'.
(Other definitions for bide that I've seen before include "Tarry" , "Dwell, stay" , "Remain (archaic)" , "Dwell, of old" , "Stay in a certain place" .)