Like certain items laid out, initially useless (5)
I believe the answer is:
ovoid
'like certain items laid' is the definition.
(like eggs - eggs get laid)
'out initially useless' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
'useless' becomes 'void'.
The initial letter of 'out' is 'o'.
'o'+'void'='OVOID'
(Other definitions for ovoid that I've seen before include "Like Humpty-Dumpty" , "Rounded like an egg" , "Shaped like an egg" , "shaped like rugger ball?" , "like eggs!" .)