Compact cupboard containing empty suitcase (5-3)
I believe the answer is:
close-set
'compact' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'cupboard containing empty suitcase' is the wordplay.
'cupboard' becomes 'closet' (type of cupboard).
'containing' indicates putting letters inside.
'empty' means to remove the middle letters.
'suitcase' with its middle removed is 'se'.
'closet' placed around 'se' is 'CLOSE-SET'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for close-set that I've seen before include "With little space between them, eyes perhaps" , "Tight together" , "(Eg of eyes) very near to each other" .)