Established beads are used (5)
I believe the answer is:
based
'established' is the definition.
('base' can be a synonym of 'establish')
'beads are used' is the wordplay.
'are used' is an anagram indicator.
'beads' is an anagram of 'BASED'.
(Other definitions for based that I've seen before include "Positioned" , "Worthless" , "Founded or used as evidence" , "Founded, grounded" , "Stationed (in a place)" .)