Worries over small stroke (6)
I believe the answer is:
caress
'stroke' is the definition.
(I know that caress is a type of stroke)
'worries over small' is the wordplay.
'worries' becomes 'cares' (I've seen this in another clue).
'over' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'cares'+'s'='CARESS'
(Other definitions for caress that I've seen before include "Scares with loving stroke" , "Gentle loving touch" , "Affectionate stroke" , "Tenderly stroke" , "Expression of affection" .)