Being metal, it conducts electricity (4)
I believe the answer is:
lead
'being metal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'it conducts electricity' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'it' could be 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT') and 'e' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'lad' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lead that I've seen before include "Metal - wire" , "Show the way; soft metallic element" , "front man" , "Short wire used as jumper - Pb" , "first name in lights?" .)