Leaps about at requests (5)
I believe the answer is:
pleas
'requests' is the definition.
(plea is a kind of request)
'leaps about' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates an anagram.
'leaps' is an anagram of 'PLEAS'.
'at' is the link.
(Other definitions for pleas that I've seen before include "Excuses, pretexts" , "Urgent entreaties" , "Entreats" .)