Times when rays may be seen around the East (5)
I believe the answer is:
years
'times' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to time as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'rays may be seen around the east' is the wordplay.
'may be' indicates anagramming the letters.
'seen around' indicates putting letters inside.
'the east' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'rays' with letters rearranged gives 'yars'.
'yars' placed around 'e' is 'YEARS'.
'when' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for years that I've seen before include "Units of time" , "Age" , "Ages" , "12 month periods" , "Measures of time" .)