Brief section of winter setting (5)
I believe the answer is:
terse
'brief' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'section of winter setting' is the wordplay.
'section of' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'TERSE' is hidden in the letters of 'winter setting'.
(Other definitions for terse that I've seen before include "Crisply brief" , "Crisp and brief" , "Concise about trees" , "Sparing with words; abrupt" , "Trees (anag.)" .)