Chance compiler had to cut stress (8)
I believe the answer is:
accident
'chance' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'compiler had to cut stress' is the wordplay.
'compiler' becomes 'I' (the person who is writing these clues).
'had' becomes 'd' (I've seen this in other clues).
'to cut' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'stress' becomes 'accent' (accent can mean to emphasise or stress).
'i'+'d'='id'
'id' placed within 'accent' is 'ACCIDENT'.
(Other definitions for accident that I've seen before include "Collision" , "Chance occurrence." , "Contretemps" , "Pile-up" , "Mishap, misadventure" .)