Lake with a few houses is graceful (7)
I believe the answer is:
lissome
'graceful' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'lake with a few houses is' is the wordplay.
'lake' becomes 'l'.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a few' becomes 'some' (I've seen this before).
'houses' indicates putting letters inside.
'l'+'some'='lsome'
'lsome' going around 'is' is 'LISSOME'.
(Other definitions for lissome that I've seen before include "flexible" , "pliable" , "Slim, supple, graceful" , "Thin - supple - graceful" , "Moving supply" .)