Withdrew to seek gold pile (3)
I believe the answer is:
nap
'pile' is the definition.
(both can refer to the surface of a fabric)
'withdrew to seek gold' is the wordplay.
'withdrew' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'withdraws' mean this).
'to seek gold' becomes 'pan' (I've seen this in another clue).
'pan' back-to-front is 'NAP'.
(Other definitions for nap that I've seen before include "Short sleep on soft surface texture?" , "A short sleep or snooze" , "A short day-sleep" , "Raised fibres on surface of cloth or leather" , "Short sleep, card-game" .)